Primary school flu vaccination programme to start earlier than usual, says NHS Highland
The annual flu vaccine programme for primary school pupils will start earlier this year.
NHS Highland revealed the decision in a message to parents and carers on social media.
It stated: "Over the last several weeks NHS Highland, Argyll and Bute Council and Highland Council staff have been working hard to develop a programme for delivery of the primary school flu vaccine programme that will commence earlier than it has done in previous years.
"The programme has been developed to start delivery for some schools before the children stop for the October break.
"Although the NHS and council staff have been working hard, they need assistance from parents/carers to help make this happen as smoothly as possible. If more people can be vaccinated against influenza this year it will help us in the effort to tackle Covid."
Primary school children are receiving "flu consent forms" and NHS Highland wants these to be returned to the school within a week of them being issued, whether or not the child is to have the flu vaccine.
"Every consent form requires to be reviewed by the school nursing team to ensure all the relevant information has been included and if required call parents for clarification," stated the health authority. "This takes a significant amount of time and the school nursing teams have less time to do this before the delivery of the programme begins.
"The return of the consent forms enables the school nursing teams to order the appropriate amount of vaccine for each school."
