North Somerset Community Partnership (NSCP) has been awarded the contract to provide flu immunisations to school aged children across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. NSCP will be the lead provider supported by sub-contractors Bristol Community Health and Sirona care & health.
Since September 2015 the children’s flu vaccine has been offered as a yearly nasal spray free to eligible children. From June 2018 NSCP, Bristol Community Health and Sirona care & health will provide the vaccination at schools.
NSCP already provide the children’s flu vaccine at schools in North Somerset and last year achieved an uptake rate of 78% – the highest recorded in the South West.
Judith Brown, NSCP Chief Executive said: “I am delighted NSCP has been awarded the contract as lead provider for the children’s flu vaccine across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. We are very much looking forward to working in partnership with Bristol Community Health and Sirona care & health to deliver this service.
“Winning the contract is testament to the skills and commitment of staff across the organisations and NSCP’s success with last year’s child flu vaccine campaign.
“This achievement will enable NSCP to work with our colleagues to roll out our tried and tested model across Bristol and South Gloucestershire.”
Fiona Owens, NSCP School Nurse Lead said: “Flu can be a very unpleasant illness for children and can lead to potentially serious complications including bronchitis and pneumonia.
“The nasal spray flu vaccine will not only help protect your child against flu but the infection will also be less able to spread from them to their family, carers and the wider population.
“The vaccine is given as a single spray squirted up each nostril. Not only is it needle-free – a big advantage for children – the nasal spray is quick, painless, and provides greater protection than the injected flu vaccine.
“I am pleased NSCP will continue to provide this very important service to children in North Somerset and I look forward to sharing knowledge with our partners.”
