Children’s Flu Vaccination 2025-26 – Marple Cottage & Guywood Practice

The children’s flu vaccine helps protect against flu. It’s offered to children aged 2 to 3 years, school-aged children (Reception to Year 11) and children with certain long-term health conditions.

How to get the flu vaccine?

You can book your flu vaccination at the Practice by using any of the following:

Book online via NHS App (you can also access via computer or laptop at https://www.nhsapp.service.nhs.uk/login)
Click the booking link in your invitation text message
Telephone the Practice on 0161 426 0011 / 0161 983 5242

We strongly encourage those who can do so to book via NHS App. This allows telephone access to be available for those patients who may not have access to internet-enabled devices.

Why children are offered the flu vaccine

Flu can be very unpleasant for children and can sometimes cause serious problems, such as pneumonia.

Each winter in the UK, thousands of children who do not have a health condition need hospital care because of flu.

Children can catch and spread flu easily. Vaccinating them also helps protect others who are at higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu, such as babies, anyone who’s pregnant and older people.

Who should have the children’s flu vaccine

The children’s flu vaccine is offered on the NHS every year in autumn or early winter.

It’s recommended for:

children aged 2 or 3 years (at the Practice)
school-aged children (Reception to Year 11) – given at School
children aged 6 months to 17 years with certain long-term health conditions

Health conditions that mean you’re eligible for the children’s flu vaccine

It’s important for children with certain long-term health conditions to have the flu vaccine every year.

This includes children aged 6 months to 17 years who have:

conditions that affect their breathing, such as asthma (needing a steroid inhaler or tablets) or cystic fibrosis
had a lung or airways infection in the past that meant they needed to stay overnight in hospital
serious heart conditions
kidney or liver disease
some conditions that affect their brain or nerves, such as cerebral palsy
diabetes
a weakened immune system due to a condition or treatment, such as HIV or AIDS, chemotherapy or steroid medicine
problems with their spleen, such as sickle cell disease, or if they’ve had their spleen removed
a learning disability

When your child turns 18, they will be eligible for the injected flu vaccine for adults.

If your child has a health condition and you’re not sure if they’re eligible for the flu vaccine, contact the Practice or hospital specialist.

Who cannot have the children’s flu vaccine

Most children who are eligible for a flu vaccine can have the nasal spray.

But some children may be offered the injected flu vaccine instead if they:

are under 2 years of age
have had a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a previous dose of the nasal spray vaccine
have had a serious allergic reaction to an ingredient in the nasal spray vaccine, including gelatine, neomycin or gentamicin
have a severe egg allergy that’s needed intensive care hospital treatment
have a severely weakened immune system, or live with someone who has a severely weakened immune system (for example, someone who has had a bone marrow transplant)
have asthma that’s being treated with long-term steroid tablets or has needed intensive care treatment in hospital
have had a flare-up of asthma symptoms in the past 72 hours, including wheezing or needing to use a reliever inhaler more than usual
are having salicylate therapy

If you think your child may need the injected flu vaccine you can contact the Practice or school immunisation team.

Getting vaccinated if your child is unwell

If your child has a high temperature, wait until they’re feeling better before having the flu vaccine.

If they have a very blocked or runny nose, they may have to wait to get the nasal spray vaccine until they’re feeling better, or they may be offered an injected flu vaccine instead.

How the children’s flu vaccine is given

The children’s flu vaccine is usually given as a quick and painless nasal spray in each nostril.

Children who cannot have the nasal spray vaccine will get a different flu vaccine, given as an injection into the upper arm or thigh.

Some children with certain long-term health conditions who have not had a flu vaccine before might need to have a 2nd dose 4 weeks later.

Having the children’s flu vaccine at the same time as other vaccines

Children can get the flu vaccine at the same time as other vaccines.

Side effects of the children’s flu vaccine

The most common side effects of the children’s flu vaccine are mild and get better in 1 to 2 days.

Side effects of the nasal spray flu vaccine can include:

a blocked or runny nose
loss of appetite
feeling tired
a headache

Side effects of the flu vaccine injection can include:

pain or soreness where the injection was given
a slightly raised temperature
an aching body

More serious side effects such as a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) are very rare.

You cannot get flu from any of the flu vaccines.

How well the children’s flu vaccine works and how long it lasts

The children’s flu vaccine aims to protect children against the most common types of flu viruses.

There’s still a chance your child might get flu after getting vaccinated, but they’re less likely to get seriously ill or need to go to hospital.

The vaccine usually takes up to 14 days to work.

Protection from the flu vaccine goes down over time and the types of flu the vaccine protects against are updated each year. This is why it’s important to get the flu vaccine every year.

Information updated (NHS Website)