Free flu jab offered to primary pupils for the first time

Flu jabs will be available for primary pupils

Primary school children in Oldham will be eligible for the flu jab this year.

Pupils in Year 6 in our region will be able to get vaccinated for the first time.

The winter flu jab will be offered to all primary school children in England.

A new version for adults has been manufactured using cells instead of hen's eggs.

Yvonne Doyle, the Director for Health Protection and Medical Director at Public Health England, says: "This year, 25 million people will be offered the vaccine.

"It's the biggest number ever and it's a million more than last year.

"The new group in will be 600,000 primary school children in Year 6."

Healthcare workers are being told they have a "very strong professional responsibility" to get vaccinated.

In some places less than half had the jab last year.