Over 20,000 schoolchildren receive flu vaccine from Sheffield Children's - Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust

A vaccination nurse gives a smiling child a nasal flu spray

17 November 2025

Congratulations to our School Age Immunisation Service (SAIS) and School Nurses who have now provided an incredible 20,000 flu vaccinations to children and young people around Sheffield.

Our wonderful teams have visited schools, held the hands of those children who were nervous, and helped prevent the spread of flu this year. But they’re not finished yet.

Community clinics are still available, so if you child has missed their chance to have a flu vaccination in school, please bring them along to one of the following dates:

Saturday 29 November, 9:30am to 12:30pm, Concord Sports Centre, S5 6AE
Tuesday 9 December, 4pm to 6pm, Hackenthorpe Community Centre, S12 4LB

Clinics are also open every Thursday between 3.30pm and 5.15pm at Fir Vale Community Hub, S4 8GU. No appointment is needed for these clinics, but if you would like to contact the team visit the SAIS webpage for more details.

The Flu Vaccine

How does it work?

The flu vaccine can be provided needle-free and given as a single dose that is sprayed up each nostril. It is quick and painless and will mean your child is less likely to become ill if they come into contact with the flu virus.

The nasal spray is generally more effective than the injected flu vaccine, especially in young children, which is why children are now routinely offered the nasal spray rather than the flu jab.

However, the nasal spray also contains porcine content (gelatine) which may not be suitable for everyone. If parents or carers would prefer their child not to receive the nasal spray vaccine due to the porcine content (or any other reason), another form of immunisation can be offered. The injection does not contain any porcine content. If you would prefer your child to receive this option, then please complete the consent form.

Why is it important?

Flu can be very unpleasant for children. They have the same symptoms as adults – including fever, chills, aching muscles, headache, stuffy nose, dry cough and sore throat lasting up to a week. Some children develop a very high fever or complications of flu such as bronchitis, pneumonia and painful middle ear infection. They may need hospital treatment, and very occasionally, a child may die from flu.

The nasal spray vaccine contains flu viruses that have been weakened to stop them causing flu. It will help your child build up immunity to flu in a similar way as natural infection (but without the symptoms). Because the main flu viruses change each year, a new nasal spray vaccine has to be given each year, in the same way as the injectable flu vaccine. The flu vaccine for children has a very good safety profile.

How will I hear about it?

Parents and carers will receive an email about the flu immunisation at the start of the autumn school term. This will ask for your e-consent, so your child can be given the vaccine. The immunisation will then be done at their school by a school nurse. The nasal spray vaccine offers the best protection for children aged 2 to 17 years. They’ll be offered a flu vaccine injection if the nasal spray vaccine is not suitable for them. Injected flu vaccines are also safe and effective.

The nasal spray flu vaccine has very few side effects, the main one being that vaccinated children may have a runny nose for a short time afterwards.