Back to school: parents urged to protect children against flu as digital platform makes vaccination consent easier

Flu vaccination will also be offered from 1 September 2026 to pregnant women, children aged two and three years old on 31 August 2026, and children aged six months to under 18 years in clinical risk groups. Young people aged 17 and over attending special educational needs schools who are in a clinical risk group may also be vaccinated alongside their peers.

Flu can be unpleasant for children and can lead to complications including bronchitis and pneumonia. Vaccination is the best protection against the virus and helps keep children healthy, reduce absences from school and support learning throughout the winter months.

National data shows that while most children are fully vaccinated by school age, almost one in five are not fully protected against several serious diseases because they have missed routine vaccinations. Vaccinations are estimated to prevent around 5,000 deaths and thousands of hospital admissions in England every year.

Vanessa Whatley, Chief Nursing Officer for NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, said: “Back to school is a good time to make sure your child’s vaccinations are up to date. The flu vaccine helps protect children, reduces the spread of illness and helps keep them in school during the winter months.

“Flu can spread quickly among children, particularly when they return to classrooms and mix closely with friends. By taking up the offer of the free NHS flu vaccine, parents can help protect their child, their family and those who are more vulnerable to serious illness.

“If you are not sure whether your child has had all their vaccinations, you can check their record through the NHS App or speak to your GP practice. It’s important that children have the best protection possible, but if any vaccinations have been missed, it’s never too late to catch up.”

Debbie Hallwood, Service Manager for the School Aged Immunisation Service at Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to protect children from serious illnesses such as flu, measles and meningitis. Our school immunisation teams will be visiting schools from September to offer children their flu vaccine. The vaccine is quick, safe and helps protect children throughout the winter months, when viruses can spread more easily.

“We encourage parents and carers to complete their child’s consent form through MAVIS, the online vaccination consent system, and make sure they attend their vaccination appointment where possible. If your child misses their appointment, they can attend a catch-up clinic.

“Parents should also use this opportunity to check that their child is up to date with all routine vaccinations and contact their GP practice if they are unsure or need to arrange any missed vaccinations.”

MAVIS has been making consent forms easier for parents across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent since its launch in April 2026, helping to simplify the process for families. From September 2026, MAVIS will launch in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, bringing these benefits to more parents and carers.

Parents and carers are encouraged to check that their child has received:

• The annual flu vaccine, offered to children from Reception to Year 11 from 1 September 2026.
• Two doses of the MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella and varicella) or MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox.
• The MenACWY vaccine, offered in Year 9, which helps protect against meningitis and septicaemia (blood poisoning).
• The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, offered in Year 8, which helps protect against some cancers including cervical cancer.
• The Td/IPV vaccine (also called the 3-in-1 teenage booster), offered in Year 9, helps protect against tetanus, diphtheria and polio.

Children and young people in Reception to Year 13 who are not in school or have missed vaccinations can attend community catch-up clinics:

• Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin: Vaccinations and immunisations for school aged children
• Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent: Vaccinations and immunisations for school aged children

For more information about vaccinations and when to have them, visit the NHS website: www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/nhs-vaccinations-and-when-to-have-them/