Briefing for schools

The flu vaccine is offered to all primary and secondary school pupils in Scotland. It is normally given at school between September and December.

A briefing document is available to help teachers prepare pupils for their vaccination at school this year. 

View school teacher’s briefing

NHS Scotland recommends that children and young people get the flu vaccine this year.

This is for three reasons:

  • flu can be serious, even for healthy children
  • the flu vaccine helps prevent children getting sick with flu and needing time off school
  • the flu vaccine is an easy, painless and safe way to help protect children this winter

Consent guidance and parental consent

Boxes of consent packs will be delivered to each school. Parents or carers should sign and return the consent form to school even if their child is not going to have the vaccine. 

If parents or carers raise any concerns about the immunisation programme, you should signpost them to:

NHS inform flu vaccine information for primary and secondary school children (external website)
• their local NHS health board – the phone number is on their invitation letter.

Before giving out packs, make teachers and staff aware that forms are personalised for each child. Blank consent packs are provided and can be used if a personalised form for a pupil is missing.

All teachers and staff must know where to return the parental consent forms. The consent forms should be returned in their envelopes.

Your local Health Board will arrange a date with you to collect returned parental consent forms.

If possible, please remind parents and pupils to return completed consent forms.

Preparing for flu immunisations in schools

Communication methods can include:

  • newsletters
  • social media
  • email or text reminders
  • website content

We have produced digital resources for the flu vaccination programme. Social media assets, and an email template, can be downloaded for use by your school.

School staff may wish to use digital resources in class or on social media. 

View digital flu education resources for schools

School staff immunisations

This year flu vaccination will also be offered to:

  • primary and secondary school teachers
  • nursery teachers
  • pupil-facing support staff

This is available to school and nursery staff who work in a local authority or independent setting. 

Find out more about eligibility for adult flu immunisations and how to book an appointment on NHS inform (external website)

 

Last updated: 04 August 2023