Every secondary school pupil in England will be offered a free flu vaccine in September, the government announced today. A total of three million pupils will be offered a nasal spray vaccination as the government bids to halt a rise in excess deaths from influenza.
Schoolchildren in years 7 to 11 will be offered the vaccination from September 1. Officials hope that the change will both help the children have greater resistance and also indirectly protect more vulnerable members of society including grandparents from being exposed to the virus.
Health Minister, Maria Caulfield, said: “Expanding the offer of flu vaccination to all secondary school pupils this winter will provide millions of young people with extra protection. Importantly, this will also reduce the risk of transmission to more vulnerable groups, including the elderly, reducing hospitalisations and freeing up bed capacity across the NHS.
