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Protect your child from flu this winter

05 October 2022

If your child is in reception class to year 11, please look out for a consent form in their bag and return it to school to enable them to receive this year’s flu nasal spray vaccine.

Hywel Dda University Health Board’s (UHB) school nursing teams will visit all primary and secondary schools in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire between September and Christmas to deliver the nasal flu vaccine, a quick and painless way to protect your child from the flu virus.

Dr Joanne McCarthy, Deputy Director of Public Health at Hywel Dda UHB says: “Flu is caused by viruses and spreads easily. Anyone can get flu but children have the highest rate of infection and flu can be serious for them.

“Complications can include bronchitis, pneumonia and ear infections.

“The vaccine usually offers children good protection against flu. It also helps reduce the chance of children and young people spreading flu to others who are at high risk from flu, such as young babies, grandparents, and those with long-term health conditions.

“I encourage parents to take this opportunity and send in their consent forms in time to help to keep your children and Hywel Dda safe.”

Children aged two or three on 31 August 2022 will be invited by their GP practice to receive the nasal spray flu vaccine.

If your child is aged between 6 months and 2 years and has a long-term health condition that makes them at higher risk from flu, they'll be offered a flu vaccine injection instead of the nasal spray.

For more information on the flu vaccination visit phw.nhs.wales/topics/immunisation-and-vaccines (opens in new window)