SCHOOLCHILDREN across Worcestershire will be offered a free nasal spray vaccine against the common cold as part of NHS England’s pilot immunisation scheme.

In preparation for the winter months, NHS England in Worcestershire is launching the nasal spray immunisation programme available for children in years seven and eight from the end of September.

Flu is a highly contagious illness that spreads rapidly through the coughs and sneezes of people who are carrying the virus and the vaccine aims to stop the spread of the virus through the school.

The Fluenz immunisation spray has been used in the USA for more than 10 years, and last year it was introduced in the UK as a way of protecting healthy two and three year olds against the virus.

For more information visit www.england.nhs.uk/ahw-flu.