'Consent needed' - South Tyneside health chiefs urge parents to get primary school kids the flu jab
Vaccinations are expected to start immediately in schools throughout South Tyneside.
Parents of primary school pupils in South Tyneside are being urged to get them vaccinated against winter flu - with health chiefs warning of a two-month window of opportunity.
They say it is vital mums and dads quickly return consent forms, so the vaccination programme is armed and ready by November, ahead of peak December and January outbreak season.
Vaccinations are expected to start immediately in some borough schools, with council bosses confirming the uptake rate last year was little more than 50 percent, matching the national outlook.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says it is concerned by that figure, which has not recovered from a post-Covid drop.
Nationally last winter just 55.5 percent of primary school children - around 2.5 million out of the 4.5 million eligible - received a flu vaccine.
While uptake in all primary school-aged children was slightly up on 2024-2025, it was well below the over 60 percent seen pre-pandemic in 2019-2020.
Cllr Andy Heywood, South Tyneside’s Lead Member for Adults, Health and Independence at South Tyneside Council, urged parents to consent, and said: “Flu is not just a bad cold.
“It can be a serious illness, particularly for young children, older people, pregnant women and especially those with underlying health conditions.
“The flu vaccine is one of the best protections against the virus and helps reduce the risk of serious illness, potential hospitalisation and spreading flu to others who may be more vulnerable.
“We would encourage everyone who is eligible, including parents of primary school-aged children, to take up the offer of a free flu vaccination when invited.
“By getting vaccinated, the available evidence from the NHS suggests that you're helping to protect yourself, your family and your wider community this winter.
“The school-based vaccination programme makes it quick and easy for children to receive their flu vaccine, and we would urge parents and carers to return their consent forms as soon as possible.”
Cllr Heywood added: “Last year's uptake among primary school children was around half nationally, which means many children missed out on the protection the vaccine offers.
“We would like to see more families taking up the opportunity this year."
The UKHSA insists vaccination offers the best protection against flu and usually has a better immune response in children.
It said this was evidenced from last year’s flu season which showed strong vaccine effectiveness for school aged children, aged two to 17 years.
The agency said it was not possible to vaccinate all children at the start of the campaign, but doing so before the end of November offered protection before peak season.
Dr Suzanna McDonald, flu programme lead at the UKHSA, said: “Younger children are at higher risk of developing complications from flu and being hospitalised.
“Ensuring children are vaccinated against flu with a painless and easy nose spray, not only helps to protect them, but also helps stop them spreading it into the wider community.
“That is why we are so concerned that flu vaccine uptake among children in primary schools is too low and many thousands of children are unprotected. It’s vital we turn this around.
“This will take a concerted effort – with parents returning consent forms in good time.”