Nasal flu vaccine chance today and tomorrow

Friday 16 December 2022

A final push to vaccinate children against the flu virus means two free-to-attend clinics are being held today and tomorrow in Guernsey.

The nasal flu vaccine is offered to all eligible children through programmes run by the School Nursing Services and its Primary Care Partners.

As flu can be a serious illness for some, the School Nursing Services and Public Health organised the two "catch up clinics" before most schools break up for their Christmas holidays. 

A spokesperson for Health and Social Care said: 

"Flu can be an extremely unpleasant illness in children, with those under the age of 5 being more likely to be hospitalised due to flu than any other age group.

"Vaccinating children helps protect them in the first instance, so that they can stay in school and parents don’t have to take time off work to look after them. It also stops them from passing on flu to older relatives and other vulnerable groups, who can suffer from the complications of flu."

Pictured: Raymond Falla House is listed as 'Commerce and Employment' on this map.

The nasal flu vaccine will be available to children who were 2 years or over on 31 August 2022, all primary school aged children (from reception to year 6), secondary school-aged children up to year 11 (inclusively) at the Community Vaccination Clinic at Raymond Falla House in St Martin's between 16:00 and 18:00 both today, Friday 16 December, and tomorrow, Saturday 17 December. 

HSC said bookings are not required for these clinics, so parents and carers can walk-in with their eligible children.

Children who are unwell, with symptoms such as a fever, or other signs of an active infection, should not attend the CVC as they cannot be vaccinated.

Aside from the opportunities today and tomorrow, children can be vaccinated at the GP practice (for pre-school children) or Lukis House (for school aged children).