ABOUT 53,000 primary school children in the North-East will be offered a nasal spray flu vaccine as part of a pilot scheme this winter.

Youngsters at about 200 schools in Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland will receive a nasal spray vaccine to protect them against the infection.

Pilot schemes – which will run between September and December – will take place in 13 different areas of the country including the North-East. The aim is to determine the best approach to vaccinating school-aged children as the national programme gradually expands to include all two to 16-year-olds.

By receiving the vaccine, children will also protect their younger siblings, grandparents and other close contacts who may be at risk of becoming seriously ill if they catch flu.

The childhood flu vaccine pilots were first launched by Public Health England last year when there were seven across the country, including one in Gateshead.

Early evaluation suggested the pilots had a positive impact as areas with pilots saw fewer flu-related GP consultations, hospitalisations and emergency A&E attendances.