A new flu vaccine is being hailed by communities across Bradford as it does not contain pork gelatine.
The new injectable vaccine is an addition to the current nasal flu vaccine offered to children, called Fluenz Tetra, which contains pork gelatine.
Parents across the district have been refusing to inoculate their children with Fluenz Tetra on religious grounds.
The new vaccine will be available to children across Bradford who were born between 1 September 2016 and 31 August 2018. All primary school children. All year seven children in secondary school. Children aged between two and 17 years old with long-term health conditions, such as diabetes or asthma are also able to be inoculated.
Bradford Council for Mosques and GP’s are welcoming the news and now urging parents who have previously declined the nasal flu spray to now take advantage of the non-gelatine alternative.
They will be able to select this option for their children when they are re-invited for a vaccine, either by their GP or school immunisation team.
Public health doctors hope that the non-gelatine alternative will encourage more parents to protect their children from flu in the coming weeks. In doing so, they are helping to protect their family and the wider community as well.
This year, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever for children to be vaccinated.
