Childhood Flu Vaccination Programme

Help Protect Your Child This Winter

Flu is more than just a heavy cold. It can make children unwell and can spread quickly through schools, nurseries and households. Vaccination is the best way to help protect your child against flu and reduce the risk of passing it on to family members and others who may be more vulnerable to serious illness. Flu viruses can change from year to year, so the vaccine is updated regularly to provide protection against the strains most likely to be circulating. This is why it is important to have the flu vaccination every year.

Every year, NHS Grampian offers the flu vaccine to eligible children to help keep them healthy throughout the winter months.

Who Is Eligible?

The childhood flu vaccine is offered to:

• All children in primary school and secondary school
• Children aged 2–5 years who are not yet attending school.
• Children age 6months – 2 years with certain health conditions that put them at increased risk from flu.

What Is the Vaccine?

Most children receive the flu vaccine as a quick and painless nasal spray. The nasal spray contains viruses that have been weakened to prevent them from causing flu but will help your child build up immunity.

For children who cannot have the nasal spray for medical reasons, an alternative injectable vaccine may be available.

How Will My Child Be offered?

Children will be offered vaccination as follows:

Children Aged 6 Months to 2 Years in an At-Risk Group

Children aged 6 months to 2 years who have a health condition that places them at increased risk of complications from flu are eligible for a free flu vaccination. If your child is eligible, a member of the vaccination team will contact you directly to arrange an appointment at a convenient clinic location. Please ensure that your contact details are up to date with your GP practice so that we can reach you. The flu vaccine provides important protection against serious illness and helps keep your child well during the winter months.

Children Aged 2–5 Years (Not Yet at School)

If your child is aged 2 to 5 years and is not yet attending school, they can still receive their free flu vaccination. To arrange an appointment, please follow the booking links provided at the bottom of this page and select a convenient clinic, date and time.

Primary and Secondary School Pupils

Children attending primary and secondary school who are eligible for the flu vaccination will be offered the vaccine during the school day by NHS Grampian vaccination teams. Parents and carers will receive a consent form with information about the vaccine and how to provide consent for their child to be vaccinated. Please complete and return the consent form as soon as possible to ensure your child can receive their vaccination during the scheduled school session.

In Scotland, a child attending secondary school my consent to vaccination without parental consent, provided they are assessed as having sufficient understanding and maturity to make that decision themselves. This is based on the Age of Legal Capacity (Scotland) Act 1991 and the principle of Gillick competence. Vaccination staff are adept are assessing capacity, and there are processes in place to support this. The registered healthcare professional may assess competence, and if the person is deemed competent, vaccination can proceed on the basis of self-consent.

Missed a Vaccination Session?

If your child missed their flu vaccination at school or was absent on the day, don’t worry. Catch-up opportunities will be available within vaccination clinics. To arrange please contact 01224 555333

Find Out More

For more information about the childhood flu vaccine, including eligibility, vaccine safety and frequently asked questions, please visit NHS Inform or speak to your healthcare professional.

Vaccination pre-school flu clinics (2 – 5 years)

Please note you can book an appointment at any clinic across Grampian.

Please click on the name of the centre you would like to book your appointment at. You will then be taken to an online booking page.

Aberdeen City

Aberdeen City Vaccination Centre – Bon Accord Centre (across from Costa Coffee), George Street, Aberdeen, AB25 1HZ

Moray

Moray Vaccination Centre – Beechbrae Education Centre, Duffus Road, Elgin, IV30 4NP

The Shand Centre – Stephen Hospital, Stephen Avenue, Dufftown, AB55 4BH

Fleming Hospital – Fleming Hospital, Queens Road, Aberlour, AB38 9PR

Aberdeenshire  

Clinics marked as Outreach will be running limited sessions – please see dates next to each area that will be available.   

Help your child stay protected this winter – say yes to the flu vaccine.