Flu (Influenza) Vaccination for Children

Flu can be a particularly nasty illness in children, causing acute bronchitis, painful ear infections, and pneumonia. Some children may need hospital treatment, including intensive care. In 2024/2025, there were 53 child deaths in England associated by Flu.

At Vaccination UK, we are proud to deliver safe, effective school-based flu vaccination programmes across the country. Our experienced clinical teams work closely with schools to ensure children are vaccinated quickly, comfortably and with care.

Part of the NHS School Aged Immunisation Service

Why is flu vaccination important for children

Flu is more than just a bad cold.

In children it can lead to:

Severe illness
Missed school days
Spread to vulnerable family members, including grandparents

Vaccinating children helps:

Reduce the spread of flu in schools
Protect families and communities
Ease pressure on GP surgeries and hospitals during winter

Keep the community safe:

Reduce the spread of flu in the local areas
Protect families and communities
Ease pressure on GP surgeries and hospitals during winter

How does the school flu vaccination programme work

Each autumn, children from Reception to Year 11 are offered a free flu vaccination as part of the NHS childhood immunisation programme.

Delivering vaccinations in schools:

Makes access easier for families
Ensures high levels of protection across the school community
Allows children to be vaccinated in a familiar environment

All vaccinations are carried out by fully trained healthcare professionals, following strict NHS guidance and clinical protocols.

How does the nasal spray flu vaccine work for children

Most children receive the flu vaccine as a quick and simple nasal spray, rather than an injection.

The intranasal spray:

Is sprayed once into each nostril
Contains weakened flu viruses to build immunity
Cannot cause flu
It is painless, well tolerated, and over in seconds.

Is the flu vaccine safe for children

Yes. The flu vaccine has been used safely in millions of children across the UK for many years.

It is:

Thoroughly tested
Closely monitored
Recommended by the NHS and UK health authorities

Serious side effects are extremely rare, and our clinical teams are trained to manage all aspects of vaccination safely and professionally.

Why is the nasal spray recommended?

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has found that the nasal spray vaccine offers several benefits compared with the injected vaccine:

More effective protection, It provides higher protection in children and may help protect against flu strains that have changed (or drifted) from those in the vaccine.

Needle-free and painless, the nasal spray is quick, easy, and stress-free.

Stronger, broader immunity, Because it contains a live, weakened virus, it more closely mimics a natural infection, helping to build better long-term immune memory.

What are the side effects of the nasal spray flu vaccine in children

The nasal spray flu vaccine has very few, mild side effects. Some children may experience a runny or blocked nose, sore throat, mild headache, reduced appetite, or a slight temperature. These flu vaccine symptoms are usually short-lived (1–2 days) and can be comfortably managed with paracetamol (Calpol) if needed. Remember while the body is building up the antibodies to protect from the virus, the body is having to work a little bit harder so may cause these side effects. For most parents and children, the benefits of preventing flu, hospitalisation and complications far outweigh the small risk of side effects of a runny nose for a day or so. Remember there is a big difference between a cold and flu.

Serious side effects such as Anaphylaxis is very rare – but all nurses are trained in treating anaphylaxis if was to occur.

When will my child receive the flu vaccine?

Our vaccination teams visit as many schools as possible across each borough between September and December. Because there are a significant schools, some may have earlier or later visit dates.

If your child’s school is scheduled for a later date and you’d like them to receive the vaccine sooner, we also run community flu clinics throughout the flu season in every area.
Please contact your local vaccination team to book your child into one of these clinics.

We rotate school visit timetables each year to ensure that all schools are treated fairly.

Please note:

GPs do not routinely offer flu vaccinations to children unless they are in a clinical high-risk group.
The School Immunisation Service provides flu vaccinations for all school-aged children and also for home-educated children through local community clinics.

What parents and carers can expect

We understand that trusting someone with your child’s health is important.

That’s why we:

Provide clear information before vaccination
Obtain informed parental consent
Treat every child with patience, reassurance and respect
Ensure children can return to class straight after vaccination

Our teams are experienced in supporting nervous children and always take time to explain what will happen in a calm, friendly way.

Are there children who should not receive the nasal spray flu vaccine?

Asthma

Children with asthma can safely receive the nasal spray.
However, the nasal vaccine is not recommended if your child is currently having an asthma flare-up for example, if they have had increased wheezing or needed an increase use of inhalers, more so than usual in the last 72 hours. In these cases, your child will be offered the flu injection instead, so that protection is not delayed. The nurse will discuss this with you when assessing your child.

Weakened Immune System

Children who are severely immunocompromised (for example, receiving chemotherapy, or diagnosed with leukaemia or lymphoma, or taking high doses of immunosuppressant medication) should not receive the nasal spray.
They will instead be offered the injected flu vaccine for protection.
If your child lives with someone who is severely immunosuppressed and requires isolation (for example, after a bone marrow transplant), the injected vaccine is also recommended.

Minor Illness

A mild illness without fever (such as a cold) is not a reason to delay vaccination.
If your child is acutely unwell with a high temperature, vaccination may be postponed until they are fully recovered. This helps to avoid confusion between illness symptoms and vaccine side effects.

Egg Allergy

Most children with egg allergies can safely receive the nasal spray vaccine The ovalbumin content is nasal spray is less than 0.024 mcg per 0.2mlo dose.
The only exception is for those who have previously required intensive care treatment for a severe anaphylactic reaction to egg, we would not recommend the Nasal spray.

Anaphylaxis and Other Allergies

Children who have had a confirmed anaphylactic reaction to a previous flu vaccine dose or to a vaccine ingredient (other than egg) should not receive the nasal spray.

Salicylate Therapy

Children taking aspirin or salicylate medication should not receive the nasal vaccine, as there is a small risk of a rare condition called Reye’s syndrome.

There is also a flu vaccine available in the form of an injection

The nasal flu vaccine is the best vaccine for children and young people under 18 years of age as it is more effective at stopping the spread of flu and it is painless, but it does have a highly processed form of gelatine (porcine gelatine), which is used in a range of many essential medicines. The gelatine helps to keep the vaccine viruses stable so that the vaccine provides the best protection against flu.

If your faith or beliefs mean you would prefer a vaccine that has no pork (porcine gelatine) in it, please complete the consent for the flu injection only. You do not need to complete a form for both.

What to expect with a nasal spray Flu vaccine

Frequently Asked Questions about the flu vaccine

Can the flu vaccine give my child flu?

No. The nasal spray contains weakened viruses that cannot cause flu.

Is the flu vaccine a live vaccine?

Nasal Spray is a live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) this means it contains a very weak (attenuated) form of the flu virus.

The virus in the vaccine is specially changed so it cannot cause illness, but it still helps your body learn how to fight flu just like it would after a real infection.

Because the vaccine is given as a nasal spray, the weakened virus stays in the nose and throat area, where it’s cooler (around 25°C). It does not grow in the lungs, which keeps it safe for children.

How long does the flu vaccine last?

We offer the flu vaccine to all eligible children each year, and new consent is required every flu season. Flu viruses constantly change, and last year’s vaccine won’t fully protect against new strains. Annual vaccination ensures your child stays protected against the latest circulating viruses.

What if my child is unwell on vaccination day?

Children with mild illnesses can usually still be vaccinated. If your child has a high temperature, vaccination may be postponed.

Why does my child need the flu vaccine every year?

Flu viruses change each year, so the vaccine is updated annually to provide the best protection.

Will my child need an injection?

Most children receive the nasal spray. Only a small number require an injection for medical reasons.

MYTH

Shedding the vaccine virus means it will cause the flu in others
FACT

While the live attenuated vaccine virus is shed in the nasal secretions for a few days after vaccination, it is weakened (or "attenuated") to the point where it cannot cause severe illness in healthy people. The virus is "cold-adapted," meaning it only replicates efficiently in the cooler temperatures of the nasal passages and dies at the human body's core temperature, preventing it from infecting the lungs and causing actual flu disease

MYTH

Flu is just a bad cold

FACT

Flu can cause serious illness, especially in young children and people with pre-existing health conditions. Each year, healthy children are hospitalised with flu complications and tragically, some children die from flu. It's much more severe than a common cold

MYTH

The flu vaccine gives you the flu

FACT

The nasal spray contains weakened viruses that cannot cause flu. Your child might get a runny nose - but this isn't flu.

MYTH

My child had the flu vaccine last year, so they are protected

FACT

Flu viruses change each year - which is why the vaccine is updated annually to match the most common strains.

We are passionate about protecting children’s health and supporting schools to create safer, healthier learning environments.

By working proactively with schools and families, we help ensure: