The rollout and updated guidance on the flu vaccination for children aged 5-17 has been released by the Department of Health.
Related Article: Calls to protect migrant nursing staff from ‘abusive jobs’
In 2015/16 two-four year olds and five-six year olds should be offered the vaccination of Fluenz Tetra, along with primary school-aged children in areas that previously participated in the pilots.
Then in 2016/17, the Department of Health (DH) has provisionally agreed, that it should be offered to two-four year olds and five-seven year olds, plus primary school-aged children in areas that previously participated in the pilots.
Related Article: Government seeks nurse views to underpin first-ever men’s health strategy
In 2017/18 the DH is provisionally predicting that it will be rolled out for two-four year olds and five to 10 years olds, and no formal decision has been made for 2018/19.
As a minimum, the DH is expecting uptake levels between 40-60% to be achieved consistently across all localities.
Related Article: Nurses ‘obliged’ to accept lower paid jobs for improved conditions, warns QICN
Vaccination for pre-school children are “likely to continue” to be given in general practice, and for school-aged children by a mix of school nurses and specialist immunisations teams, or through community pharmacies and general practice.
