Parents and carers of eligible children and young people across Lincolnshire are being encouraged to complete their child’s flu vaccination consent form as soon as they receive it from the Lincolnshire School Age Immunisation Service (SAIS).

Each autumn, SAIS delivers the annual flu vaccination programme in schools across Lincolnshire. The programme takes place between September and December and helps protect children, their families and wider communities from flu during the winter months.

Providing a consent response, whether you choose to accept or decline vaccination, is important as it helps the immunisation team plan vaccination sessions and ensure every child receives the appropriate information and opportunity to be vaccinated.

This year, parents and carers may notice a change to how they receive consent requests.

Previously, schools distributed links to the online consent form on behalf of the immunisation service. With the introduction of a new online system known as MAVIS (Manage Vaccinations in Schools), parents and carers will now receive secure consent invitations directly from SAIS by email or text message.

Developed by NHS England specifically for School Age Immunisation Services, MAVIS will enable the immunisation team to communicate directly with families, providing vaccination information, reminders and consent requests in a more streamlined way.

Claire Stubbs, Clinical Services Lead- Neighbourhood Health/CYP, Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust said:

“As we deliver this year’s school flu vaccination programme, we encourage all parents and carers to complete the consent form as soon as they receive it. Responding promptly helps us plan school vaccination visits and ensures children and young people can access the protection offered by vaccination.“

“Families in Lincolnshire are already familiar with completing vaccination consent forms online. The introduction of MAVIS means consent requests will now come directly from the School Age Immunisation Service rather than being sent via schools. This will help ensure parents receive timely information and reminders directly from the team delivering the vaccination programme.“

Parents and carers will receive a secure link by email or text message which allows them to:

• Give consent for vaccination
• Decline vaccination if they do not wish their child to be vaccinated
• Access information about the vaccine being offered

Schools will continue to play an important role in supporting vaccination programmes and hosting vaccination sessions, but they will no longer be required to distribute consent links on behalf of the immunisation service.

The annual flu vaccination programme helps protect children and young people from what can be a serious and unpleasant illness. Children are more likely to catch and spread flu, which can result in time away from school and can also lead to infection being passed on to family members and others who may be more vulnerable to complications, such as babies, older people and those with long-term health conditions.

For more information on flu vaccinations visit NHS Lincolnshire ICB’s Grab a Jab webpage Vaccinations in school – Lincolnshire ICB