Management Information Sheet

Flu immunisation is a key part of protecting the health of children each winter. The safety and effectiveness of the flu vaccine is of paramount concern to all healthcare workers administering the vaccines, as it is to parents and schools. The information contained in the attached letter is to help reassure all school staff, parents and children about the safety and effectiveness of nasal flu vaccines. A brief summary of the letter is given below.

Summary

The live attenuated influenza vaccine "LAIV" has been used in this country and others for a number of years and has a good safety record. Whilst the effectiveness of LAIV has been lower than expected in the US, effectiveness in the UK has been good and after looking at all the available evidence, the expert committee advising UK health departments (JCVI) has recommended its continued use. The reasons for the results in the US are not clear.

Schools and parents should be reassured that those receiving LAIV and those who do not, but share common facilities, are not at risk of developing influenza infection following the use of LAIV in school. The very small number of severely immunocompromised children (e.g. after bone marrow transplant) who may possibly be at risk would not be attending school because of the much greater risk of being exposed to many different infections that circulate in school populations.

I hope this information provides you and your staff with sufficient reassurance about the safety and effectiveness of LAIV to allow us to continue to work collaboratively to protect the health of children at your school and our wider community.

If you have any further questions please contact Nicky Srahan, our School Age Immunisation Service Lead on 07984336354.

We are most grateful for your help and cooperation.

Dr S.J. Louise Smith, MB ChB, PhD, FFPH
Director Public Health
Norfolk County Council