Children attending special schools, including those with autism, are to be offered a flu vaccination.

The extension of the national flu immunization progamme to special needs children is part of a phased plan to widen its scope. The initiative is based, the NHS says, on the advice of “independent experts”.

Now, children who attend special schools will be offered the vaccine as a spray up the nose, a procedure that some children with autism and sensory issues might find difficult. The NHS claims the procedure is painless, quick and serious side effects are “uncommon”.

Controversially, the flu vaccine contains thiomersal (commonly known in the US as thimerosal), an ingredient that has been blamed for causing autism in children. The claim was followed up by studies suggesting there is no such link between thiomersal-containing vaccines and autism, as well as no link between the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine and ASD in children.

Between 1999 and 2001, thiomersal was removed or reduced to trace amounts in all childhood vaccines except for some flu vaccines packaged in multi-dose vials.

The flu vaccine also contains gelatine derived from pigs (porcine gelatine). According to the NHS the nasal vaccine contains a highly processed form of the gelatine (porcine gelatine), and this is used in a wide range of medicines. The NHS says that the gelatine helps to keep the vaccine virus stable, which enables the vaccination to provide “the best protection against the flu”.

Is the flu vaccine effective?

Last year there were concerns that the flu vaccine was not working as well as in previous years. The NHS acknowledges that last year the flu vaccine was not a good match for the circulating strains of the virus. It was reported that it was stopping only three out of every 100 vaccinated people from developing flu symptoms.

Published: 30 October 2015