The local NHS is urging parents and carers of schoolchildren who missed out on having a flu immunisation in school to get booked in to have a free vaccination over the holidays.

Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust’s (LPT) school aged immunisation service (SAIS) is putting on several catch-up clinics over the Christmas and New Year break for children and young people who did not have a nasal or injectable flu vaccination when the service visited their school during the autumn term.

The clinics are being held on the following dates:

  • Monday 22 December 2025: Elizabeth Park Centre, Elizabeth Park Sports Centre, Checkland Rd, Thurmaston, Leicester LE4 8FN, from 9am – 3pm
  • Tuesday 23 December 2025: Emmanuel Church Hall, 47 Forest Rd, Loughborough, LE11 3NW, from 9am – 2pm
  • Monday 29 December 2025: Elizabeth Park Centre, Elizabeth Park Sports Centre, Checkland Rd, Thurmaston, Leicester LE4 8FN, from 9am – 3pm
  • Friday 2 January 2025: Hynca Lodge, St Francis Close, Hinckley, LE10 0EW, from 9am – 2pm
  • Saturday 3 January 2025: Elizabeth Park Centre, Elizabeth Park Sports Centre, Checkland Rd, Thurmaston, Leicester LE4 8FN, from 9am – 3pm

LPT’s school aged immunisation service manager, Marie Butterworth, said: “There can be many reasons why children and young people might miss out on getting their flu vaccine when we visit their school. The good news is that parents and carers can give their child protection against the latest strain of flu by getting them vaccinated for free at one of our holiday clinics.

“It has been widely recognised that the strain of flu currently circulating is a particularly nasty one. Getting vaccinated is a safe and effective way to help keep the virus at bay, while also helping to prevent children and young people from passing it on to vulnerable family members or friends.

“We have two vaccinations available; either the flu nasal spray, which is given as a quick and painless squirt up each nostril – and which offers the best protection against flu for children and young people, or the injectable flu vaccine, which is available if the nasal flu vaccine isn’t suitable for the child. The injectable flu vaccine is also pork-gelatine free.”

Flu is highly contagious and can cause a high temperature, body aches, sore throats, a cough, runny nose and exhaustion. It can also lead to more serious problems – like ear infections, bronchitis and even hospitalisation.

Since September, the SAIS team has been working tirelessly to offer more than 160,000 children and young people a free flu vaccine to help to protect them against the virus this winter. They have visited every primary, secondary and special school in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR).

Marie added: “The vaccine is very quick and most children will not get any side effects – and if they do, they will usually be mild and only last a few days. Our team are very friendly and experienced. They will do everything they can to make sure children feel comfortable and supported while they have the vaccine.”

To book an appointment at a catch-up clinic, request information or ask a question, parents and carers or young people can contact the school aged immunisation service on 0300 3000 007 or email lpt.sais@nhs.net . Detailed information about the flu vaccines on offer was sent directly to parents and carers via text or email.

More information about the vaccines, including explainer videos, can also be found on the school aged immunisation service webpage.

These clinics will be the last catch-up clinics offered by SAIS for the flu vaccine. Parents and carers whose children are unable to make one of the clinics can also try visiting a roving health unit pop-up clinic during the flu season. Parents and carers of clinically vulnerable children can also contact their child’s GP practice to arrange a flu vaccination.

For more on the prevention and treatment of winter-related illnesses, parents and carers can visit our winter wellness hubs on the Health for Kids and Health for Under 5s websites.

To visit the hubs go to: