Cllr Alan White

A programme to vaccinate hundreds of schoolchildren against flu across Lichfield and Burntwood has been welcomed by a local county councillor.

Pupils in years seven and eight will be offered the free nasal spray vaccination as part of a national programme in the coming months.

Cllr Alan White
Cllr Alan White
And Cllr Alan White, Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for health, care and wellbeing, said the scheme could eventually be rolled out to all children up to the age of 17.

“Schools are a very good breeding ground for illnesses like flu, because children don’t tend to use tissues or wash their hands as much as adults,” he said. “The virus is then at risk of being transferred to more vulnerable people such as the elderly and those with existing health problems.

“The nasal spray is a safe and effective way of protecting not only the children themselves, but the people they may come into contact with.

“We have been working hard with our public health partners to ensure the immunisation programme runs as smoothly as possible, and as many children who are eligible for the vaccine are able to access it.”

Founder of Lichfield Live and editor of the site.