Parents across the South East are being urged to use half term as a chance to catch their child up on any missed flu vaccinations to ensure they are protected as winter and flu season begins to bite.

Many school-aged children will have already received their flu vaccination at school or be booked to get it shortly after half term, but NHS England South East is urging parents of those children who missed out on school vax sessions to make sure they get protected this half term. Regional health bosses are also calling on parents to make sure their children’s consent forms are completed ready for those children booked into school vaccination sessions after the break.

Local NHS teams are making getting a catch-up vaccination over the half-term break as easy as possible by hosting community clinics closer to home – with sessions set up in community centres and libraries. Specific sessions are also available for children who are unable to be vaccinated in the school setting, with longer appointments offered in quieter, calmer settings and for those children who are home-schooled. In the Hampshire and Isle of Wight area alone there are 22 community clinics running across the half-term break.

School-aged children with certain health conditions and two-and three-year-olds can also get vaccinated at their local GP practice, with parents of eligible pre-schoolers also able to drop-in to their local pharmacy to get their child vaccinated for the first time ever.

The stepping up of the vaccine programme comes after UKHSA data showed flu cases and hospitalisations are on the rise, with transmission among school-aged children driving the early start to the season.

Andrea Lewis, Regional Chief Nurse for NHS England South East, said:

“The data is telling us that flu is hitting us earlier this year, with a growing number of cases in children. Vaccination is the best way to ensure children are protected from getting seriously ill with flu and to prevent spreading it to family members, particularly siblings and grandparents. Local teams are working overtime to offer different sessions in creative locations and make it as easy as parents to get their child vaccinated.

“I’d encourage parents of any children who have missed their school vaccination session to check their child’s options for vaccination as soon as possible, and for those parents with children due to get their vaccinations after the half term break, please make sure their child’s consent form is signed and ready.”

The NHS rolled out vaccinations for children and pregnant women at the start of September to kick start their protection – with flu likely to circulate among children before adults.

More than 1.8million vaccinations have been delivered across the South East since the campaign kicked off. While nationally almost one and a half million school-aged children and more than 300,000 eligible two- and three-year-olds have had their vaccine to provide them with vital protection and minimise the spread to their families.

The flu virus changes every year, so it’s important to get a vaccination each year to ensure your protection and help reduce the spread to others.

Flu vaccines are available for everyone aged 65 and over, under 65s in clinical risk groups, care home residents and carers, pregnant women, close contacts of those who are immunosuppressed and frontline health and social care workers, as well as children.

Those aged 75 or over, anyone with a weakened immune system, or those living in older adult care homes are also eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine this year, following the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s recommendation.

For more information on your nearest community clinic for school-aged children (from reception to year 11) this half-term, please visit your local NHS provider website.

For appointments for eligible two and three year olds and adults, check availability via the NHS App, online at www.nhs.uk/bookflu, by calling 119 or by contacting your GP practice.

You can also find your nearest local pharmacy offering the vaccine at www.nhs.uk/flu-pharmacy.