Nearly 150,000 South West pupils missed flu vaccine last winter
Parents urged to return consent forms as school vaccination teams visit classrooms
Close to 45% of secondary school-aged pupils in the South West did not receive their flu vaccination last winter, new figures indicate.
With secondary pupils increasingly missing out on flu vaccines, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) South West is urging parents to submit consent forms promptly and ensure their children are inoculated when school teams visit over the coming weeks.
Out of 334,298 eligible pupils, 185,231 from secondary schools received the flu vaccine in the region last year.
The pattern was similar across primary schools, though overall coverage was higher, with 264,406 of 411,284 eligible pupils vaccinated.
Local authority figures show varying levels of uptake, from 47.6% for secondary pupils and 51.3% for primary children in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, to 76.4% of primary pupils and 69.9% of secondary pupils vaccinated in Gloucestershire.
"clear pattern of vaccine uptake falling away"
Dr Fiona Neely, a Consultant in Health Protection at UKHSA, highlighted the concern over falling vaccination rates: "Young children, along with children of any age who have other illnesses such as asthma and other lung conditions, heart, liver or kidney problems are at the highest risk of developing complications and being hospitalised with flu.
"But children of primary and secondary school age are also among the biggest spreaders of the virus, which is why it is concerning that here in the South West we are seeing a clear pattern of vaccine uptake falling away as children get older.
“Last winter, around 149,067 secondary school pupils across the region went without a vaccine, and that's a real concern, because unvaccinated teenagers can still become seriously unwell, and they can spread flu into the wider community, to younger siblings and grandparents.
"It's vital we turn this around here in the South West.
"This will take a concerted effort, with parents returning consent forms in good time, and our school vaccination teams and headteachers working together to deliver the programme, helping protect children of all ages across the region and give them the best start to thrive in school."
Dr Matthew Dominey from NHS England South West added, “Flu can be a serious illness for children and can lead to complications which may require a hospital admission.
“Vaccination is a quick and effective way to protect your child, while also helping to reduce the spread of flu to family members and the wider community across the South West.
“The vaccine is usually given at school, so we urge parents and carers to return their consent forms promptly to ensure their child can get protected ahead of winter.”
Eligible children include those aged 2 to 3 years on 31st August 2026, all primary and secondary school-aged children, and children aged 6 months and older with long-term health conditions.
Parents are encouraged to ensure that their children receive all routine vaccinations before starting school, particularly the MMRV or MMR vaccine to prevent measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox, to avoid school outbreaks.
Good hygiene practices, such as hand-washing and respiratory habits, remain crucial for reducing infection spread.