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Protect yourself against flu – information for those in secondary school

Updated 21 May 2025

Applies to England

Flu vaccine is offered free to:

• children aged 2 or 3 years old (on 31 August before flu vaccinations start in the autumn)
• children from 6 months of age with a health condition that puts them at greater risk from flu
• school-aged children (Reception to Year 11)

Further information on which children are eligible each year can be found on the NHS website.

Why you should have the flu vaccine

Flu can be a very unpleasant illness causing fever, extreme tiredness, aching muscles and joints, stuffy nose, dry cough and sore throat. You usually begin to feel better within about a week. Some people develop complications and need to go to hospital for treatment.

Benefits of the vaccine

Having the vaccine will help protect you from what can be a very nasty illness. It can help you avoid disruption to your education and missing out on things you enjoy.

The vaccine also reduces the chance of you spreading flu to others, so in turn helps protect your family and friends.

If you had the flu vaccination last year, you need another one this year

Flu viruses change every year so the vaccine may be updated. For this reason, we recommend that you are vaccinated against flu again this year, even if you were vaccinated last year.

How the vaccine will be given

It is usually given as a nasal spray. If the nasal spray is not suitable, an injection can be given instead, usually into the muscle in the upper arm.

How the nasal spray works

The nasal spray contains viruses that have been weakened to prevent them from causing flu but will help you build up immunity.

The vaccine is absorbed quickly in the nose so, even if you sneeze immediately after having had the spray, there’s no need to worry that it hasn’t worked.

Side effects

You may develop a runny or blocked nose, headache, general tiredness and some loss of appetite. However, these are much milder than developing flu and its complications. Serious side-effects are uncommon.

If you are not feeling well on the day

The vaccination may be delayed if you have a fever. Also, if you have a heavily blocked or runny nose, it might stop the vaccine getting into your system. In this case, the flu vaccination can be postponed until your nasal symptoms have cleared up.

Young people with long-term health conditions

If you have a long-term health condition that puts you at higher risk of serious complications from flu, you should have the flu vaccine every year. If you have one of these health conditions and are not in one of the groups being offered flu vaccine at school, you can also ask your GP surgery to give you the vaccine. You can also ask your GP surgery to do this if, for example, you don’t want to wait until the school vaccination session.

Long-term health conditions that put you more at risk from flu

These conditions include:

• serious lung problems, such as asthma needing regular use of steroid inhaler or tablets
• serious heart conditions
• kidney or liver disease
• diabetes
• weakened immune system as a result of a condition or treatment with medicines, such as steroid tablets or chemotherapy
• problems with the spleen, for example sickle cell disease or the spleen has been removed
• a learning disability
• problems with the nervous system, such as cerebral palsy

Visit the NHS website for more information.

Young people who should not have the nasal vaccine

Most children and young people are offered a nasal spray vaccine which is quick and easy to administer and is the preferred vaccine for children. However, some young people may not be able to have the nasal vaccine (see details below). Your parents will be given a consent form to complete ahead of the vaccination, which will include questions to check whether it is suitable for you. They can speak with the school immunisation team if they have any questions. If you cannot have the nasal spray, you will be offered a flu vaccine injection.

Who should not have the nasal vaccine

Instead of the nasal spray vaccine, you should have an injected flu vaccine if you:

• are currently wheezy or have been wheezy in the past 72 hours
• have a very weakened immune system or someone in your household needs isolation because they are severely immunosuppressed
• have a condition that needs salicylate treatment
• have had an anaphylactic reaction to a flu vaccine, or any of the components, in the past (other than egg)

Young people who have been vaccinated with the nasal spray should avoid close contact with people with very severely weakened immune systems (for example those who have just had a bone marrow transplant) for around 2 weeks following vaccination.

If contact is likely or unavoidable, an alternative flu vaccine should be given. If you’re not sure, check with the school-aged immunisation team, or the nurse or GP at your GP surgery.

Your parents should seek the advice of your specialist, if you have:

• had a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to egg in the past that required intensive care treatment
• asthma that’s being treated with steroid tablets or required intensive care treatment in hospital

Where the vaccination be given

School-aged children will be offered the vaccination in school, with further opportunities to get vaccinated in community clinics for anyone who misses the session at school.

Eligible children who are home educated will be offered the vaccine. You or your parents can obtain information about arrangements from your local authority education department.

You can read more in the vaccine product information leaflet.

The nasal vaccine and gelatine derived from pigs (porcine gelatine)

The nasal vaccine contains a very small amount of gelatine from pigs (porcine gelatine) which is used in a range of many essential medicines. The gelatine helps keep the vaccine stable so that it is able to work properly.

The nasal spray is the preferred vaccine for children, and it is quick and easy to administer. It may also be better at reducing the spread of flu in the community. If you do not accept medicines or vaccines that contain porcine gelatine, a flu vaccine injection that does not contain gelatine is available.

Where to find more information

Visit the NHS website for more information. Talk to the school immunisation team, your GP or practice nurse if you have any further questions.