MORE Wiltshire children were vaccinated against the flu last year than South West averages.

Now health bosses want to see every primary school aged child vaccinated, after figures showed that 62 per cent of school pupils under 11 get protected against the flu.

Nearly 70 per cent of children in reception were vaccinated last year, and all ages until Year five above averages.

The vaccine is no longer given via an often fear inducing needle, and is instead given as a nose spray to young children.

From this month Year 6 children will now be able to get a free vaccine too, to stave off the winter cold snap illness.

Dr Julie Yates, head of Screening and Immunisation at PHE South West said:

“We are so pleased that Year 6 children are now eligible for the flu vaccine which means that all children in primary school can now have this vaccination at school.

“The vaccine for children is no longer an injection; it is a simple nasal spray that takes just a few seconds to administer.”