Flu Vaccination Uptake Among Primary School Children
During the winter of 2025-26, only 55.5% of primary school children, approximately 2.5 million out of a total of 4.5 million eligible, received a flu vaccine. Although this represents a slight increase from the previous winter’s uptake of 54.5% for 2024-25, it remains significantly lower than the pre-pandemic levels, which exceeded 60% during the winter of 2019-20.
The introduction of the nasal flu vaccine for the youngest primary school children dates back to the 2014-15 season, with availability extended to all primary school-aged children by the 2019-20 season. Since reaching a peak of 62.5% in the 2020-21 season, vaccination rates have declined over the following years.
The flu vaccination is recognised as the most effective means of protecting against influenza, typically eliciting a robust immune response in children. Data from the last flu season indicated strong vaccine effectiveness among children aged 2 to 17 years, preventing:
- 52% of children from needing to visit their GP;
- 68% from being hospitalised.
Importance of Timely Vaccination
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is emphasising the significance of flu vaccinations, urging parents to ensure that consent forms are submitted promptly so that their children can benefit from the immunisation programmes when school teams visit.
Flu vaccinations are set to commence in certain schools this week, with local immunisation teams scheduled to visit schools throughout the region. All schools are expected to have received an invitation for vaccination sessions by late November.
While it is not feasible to vaccinate all children at the outset of the campaign, receiving the vaccine before the end of November is crucial for protection, as flu typically peaks in December and January. Early vaccination is advisable to mitigate the risk of widespread flu circulation.
Influenza can pose serious health risks for younger children, leading to thousands of hospitalisations annually. Children aged 2 and 3 years can also receive the flu vaccine through their GP surgeries.
Benefits of Vaccination for Children
Ensuring that children are vaccinated provides numerous benefits, including:
- Protection against flu and serious complications such as bronchitis and pneumonia.
- Reducing the likelihood of flu transmission, thereby safeguarding family members, particularly those who are more vulnerable, such as younger siblings and grandparents.
- Enabling children to remain in school or continue their education if being homeschooled, thereby supporting their learning and development.
- Minimising potential costs associated with taking time off work or arranging alternative childcare if a child contracts flu.
Parents should be aware that the flu vaccine does not require an injection for most children, as the nasal spray, which is painless and easy to administer, is typically used. An injectable vaccine is also available for those who prefer it, and it does not contain gelatine derived from pigs. The nasal spray has been safely administered to millions of children globally and has an excellent safety profile.
Expert Insights on Vaccination Campaigns
Dr. Suzanna McDonald, Flu Programme Lead at the UKHSA, highlighted the increased risk of complications and hospitalisation due to flu among younger children. She emphasised that the painless nasal spray vaccine not only protects the children but also helps to prevent the spread of flu within the community, especially to vulnerable individuals.
Dr. McDonald expressed concern over the low uptake of flu vaccines among primary school children, stressing the importance of rectifying this issue. She called for a united effort, with parents returning consent forms promptly, and for school vaccination teams to collaborate with head teachers to effectively deliver the vaccination programme, ultimately safeguarding children’s health and supporting their educational journeys.
Eligibility for the Flu Vaccine
The flu vaccine is available to several groups of children, including:
- Children aged 2 to 3 years old as of 31 August 2026.
- All primary school-aged children (from reception to year 6).
- Secondary school-aged children (from year 7 to year 11).
- Children aged 6 months and older with long-term health conditions.
Dr. Amanda Doyle, NHS national director for primary care and community services, stated that flu vaccinations are essential for young children, preventing potentially serious complications and hospital admissions. She urged parents to take advantage of the free, painless, and convenient vaccination services offered in schools, which not only protect their child’s health but also help contain the spread of influenza within the community.
Routine Vaccination Concerns
In addition to flu vaccinations, there has been a notable decline in the uptake of routine childhood vaccinations, which protect against a variety of serious diseases. It is vital for children to be up to date with all vaccinations, particularly the MMRV or MMR vaccine, which safeguards against measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox (varicella) before they enter primary school.
A high vaccination rate is crucial in preventing outbreaks and controlling the spread of serious infections, including measles, which is particularly contagious in enclosed environments such as schools.
While children may be encouraged to attend school or childcare with mild symptoms such as a runny nose or slight cough (provided they do not exhibit a high temperature), it is important for them to remain at home if displaying certain symptoms:
- If a child has a fever and feels unwell, they should stay home until the fever has subsided and they are well enough to return.
- If a child experiences diarrhoea and/or vomiting, they should refrain from attending school or nursery for at least 48 hours after symptoms have resolved, to prevent the spread of gastrointestinal infections.
Promoting good hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette is one of the most effective strategies to halt the spread of infections. Parents are encouraged to teach their children to use tissues for coughs and sneezes, dispose of them properly, and wash their hands to minimise the risk of infection transmission.