Flu Vaccine not being given at school until January?

[WinterBabyIsComing]

My DD has just started Reception and has previously had the flu spray at the GP. I'm heavily pregnant and due to have mine this weekend and realised that I'd not heard anything from school.

Called to check and was advised they have been told that they are not scheduled for the vaccines until January! Called the GP who has advised that they will not do them as it should be done at school. Called the School Immunisation team who explained that due to a lack of resources they are not able to get to all schools within the ideal time (October/November) and so some schools are not scheduled until January.

Has anyone else come across any similar delays in getting the flu spray for their children?

FFS vaccine

It’s not their fault. I work in healthcare and there have been major issues with the flu vaccines this year.

NHS England accidentally ordered way less than they needed of a special vaccine for older people, for example.

So it’s not just children facing a delay.

Sorry, if I wasn't clear. I'm not cross with the school or the immunisation team, I'm disappointed with the lack of resources given to the Immunisation Team to allow them to do their job.

I know you can pay for it at boots, but I expect that is just for adults?

It is disappointing. Hardly seems worth it in January.

You can pay for it for kids at Boots etc if you don’t want to wait
Ours is early December in school here which I thought was too late, January does seem a bit of a waste...

January is pointless, flu season will be coming to an end. Book an app with your local chemist and ask for the nasal vaccine.

Checked our local pharmacy and no go. Boots website says children aged 10+ for private vaccine.

I don’t know if you can pay for the kids one either but I’d be tempted.

My only reservation would be the spray one is ‘live’ and I believe can shed = a class full of unvaccinated kids being exposed to the viruses. Maybe at half term?

I don’t think January is the end of flu season at all - there’s still three months of winter left.

You can’t have it in boots for small children only 10-15 yrs!! have to wait for the school. It’s terrible that parents of young children are being forced to wait so long.

Can you get it privately somewhere other than boots?

@kaytee87 I have tried!! Sadly I’m stumped but would love to know if anyone has.

You just made me check when our school have got the team in this year I’d signed the concent but not checked the date we have them in November but I’m sure other years ours has been after Christmas too. It sucks that the nhs is so underpaid that it going to take so long to have the resources to get to get all the needed groups done. Last year dh’s Work paid for a private company to come in and do all staff no idea if they are again this year.

A quick google did show a private clinic in London (flujab.org if anyone is interested) but I didn’t find much nationally. You might have better luck googling your area specifically.

I had mine this morning.

Pharmacist said it took 3 weeks to reach peak immunity, if you're not getting it until January that does seem very late.

My only reservation would be the spray one is ‘live’ and I believe can shed = a class full of unvaccinated kids being exposed to the viruses. Maybe at half term?

The amount of shedding is tiny, it won't affect anyone with a standard immune system.

I am over 60 and also have a badly compromised immune system, so flu would be very dangerous for me. I read last year that vaccinating children started because they are the most likely to spread flu, and including them in the programme is for everyone's benefit, so how does it make any sense to leave them until January? Utter madness!

It annoys me too that Year 6 children are being left out. Are they assumed to be magically immune?
I work in hone care and we're supposed to get the vaccine for free. Actually finding a pharmacy that will do it is virtually impossible.

The spray is so ineffective anyway, and combined with waiting until towards the end of flu season to give it; that’s so pathetically inadequate they almost may as well not bother. OP, I’d take her to get it done privately. And if possible get the jab rather than the spray.

I couldn’t get my 10yr old vaccinated last year, GP wouldn’t do it, she was too old for the school one and privately too young?! She had the flu when aged 7 and had 3wks off school sick and a good 6-8wks recovery and was a super sporty child , but it floored her so I was keen to avoid a repeat! Made no sense. My youngest has been given it every year via GP or school! This year school is mid-Dec.

I've had to book into boots for mine as my gp still hasn't received their supply

January is far too late - oct/Nov is the optimal time (and the earlier the better) as it takes 3-4 weeks to be fully effective. If you want to pay for it you have to go to a private gp (pharmacies won't do under 16s) as it needs to be given by either a doctor or a nurse. If you're any where near London the fleet street clinic will do them.

Dr is getting hers at school the first Monday back after half term. I wouldn't be happy with January!

My dad is a pharmacist licences to jab adults but not all pharmacies can do kids due to not having paediatric resus training. Obv incredibly unlikely kids would need it but they need to cover themselves. I'd contact HV in your scenario and ask if she can be nasal vaccinated like rest of the pre 5 kids? My DD missed hers in reception due to a meltdown, but surgery we're happy to fit her in if I took her. Re the poster who asked why Y6 left out, research shows it's small children ie pre 8 who ate worst spreaders of the flu albeit not those who suffer worst unless they have underlying condition (in which case they'd be entitled on nhs) Recent thinking is just to extend to all primary kids but funding slow to come, so last year they nasally vaccines to Y4 and this year it's Y5. Next year it will be Y6 but in meantime know that your child is old enough (in good health) not to be affected badly or pass onto vulnerable groups