PRIMARY school children across the region will be offered a flu vaccine this term.

Children across Southampton, the Isle of Wight and Portsmouth are being offered the vaccination by Solent NHS Trust’s School Aged Immunisation Service.

The vaccine will be in the form of a nasal spray, which the service says is safe, effective and offers the best protection for children.

The immunisation service will be in touch with schools in the area to arrange vaccination sessions.

Parents and guardians can complete an e-consent process before the sessions.

Deputy chief nurse, Angela Anderson, said: "Flu can be an unpleasant illness for children.

"Vaccinating children not only helps to protect them against this illness and enables them to stay in school, but also helps to stop them passing on flu to older relatives and those more vulnerable who may suffer complications.”

If pupils are not able to attend the school sessions, there will be other opportunities to receive the vaccine at other venues.

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