Childhood vaccine
Children’s Nasal Flu Vaccine
Children are offered a yearly flu vaccine as a quick, painless nasal spray, protecting them and reducing the spread of flu to others.
What it protects against
It protects against seasonal flu (influenza), which can make children unwell and can spread to more vulnerable family members. It is updated each year to match circulating strains.
Who it's for
Children from a young age up to a certain school year each autumn, and younger children at higher risk. Some children who cannot have the nasal spray are offered an injected flu vaccine instead.
How it works
The nasal spray contains live but weakened flu viruses that cannot cause flu but prompt strong protection, delivered painlessly into the nose.
Safety
Safety and side effects
It is safe and well tolerated. The most common effect is a runny or blocked nose. As it is a live vaccine, an injected version is offered to children with a severely weakened immune system or certain conditions.
Education and reference only. This is general information, not a personal recommendation, and does not list doses — follow the current NHS schedule and your clinician's advice. Seek urgent help for signs of a serious allergic reaction after any vaccine.
Answers
Children’s Nasal Flu Vaccine: frequently asked questions
Does the nasal flu spray contain pork gelatine?
The nasal spray contains a small amount of pork gelatine as a stabiliser. Families who prefer not to have this for religious or other reasons can ask about an injected alternative, which may be offered in some cases.
Why are healthy children offered the flu vaccine?
Children catch and spread flu easily, so vaccinating them protects them from illness and helps reduce the spread of flu to more vulnerable people such as grandparents and babies.
Related
Other childhood vaccines
Sources
Where this is drawn from
- NHS — Vaccinations
- UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) — the Green Book
- WHO — immunization
Building patient-education content on vaccines?
We create clear, accurate, referenced health explainers and decision aids for teams and learners.