Dear Parents
Re: Flu Immunisations
I am writing to update you with regard to the upcoming “Flu Immunisation” that is due to take place at school on 4th November 2021. The vaccinations will be administered by NHS England and we as a school facilitate the process to try and ensure as much coverage and therefore protection against the flu for your children and our whole community. This is perhaps even more important this year amidst the COVID crises than ever before.
Normally this vaccination would have taken place whilst the students were in Year 6 but this year students from Years 7 – 11 are being offered the vaccination. As you will be aware the vaccination forms indicate both consent to vaccination and non-consent to vaccination, please compete the form indicating your preference by signing the appropriate box on the form. Vaccinations will only be given once you have completed the consent form.
It has been brought to my attention that there are several students who for a variety of reasons have declined to have the immunisation via the nasal spray that the NHS will be using on the 4th November 2021.
Following discussion with some of the parents who have declined the vaccination it has become clear that one of the reasons for doing so is the inclusion of “products derived from porcine gelatine” within the vaccine. Some families for religious reasons would prefer not to make use of these products. I have spoken the Waltham Forest School Immunisation Team who have helpfully outlined the following points:
They have linked extensively with the British Fatwa Council and can provide some thinking on the matter to any interested party. If you would like a copy of this to aid your consideration please do contact them at
- The vaccination team are keen to stress that declining the nasal spray vaccination will not preclude your child from this important protection. It will just mean that you and your child will be asked to attend a clinic to receive an injection instead. The injection does not contain any of the “porcine gelatine” products that may have been problematic to those declining the nasal spray.
- NHS England have asked that if you prefer to take the injection because of the porcine gelatine you simply indicate this in the box: “Reason for refusal:”
I hope that you don’t mind me bringing this matter to your attention, many of you have already identified this as an issue from the information distributed by NHS England. However, both they and us as a school also recognise that the matter may have been overlooked if signing the form quickly. If having read this letter you would like to amend your consent form please contact
As regards to the Flu Consent Forms, we also have some Flu Injection Consent Forms available for those parents who would prefer their child to have the injection as the injection does not contain porcine products, this is clearly indicated on the form.
Students are welcome to come and get an injection form from our Medical Welfare Officer, Mrs Clancy in the Medical Office located in P Block.
Yours faithfully
Phil Grundy
Principal
