Clackmannanshire kids are being encouraged to spread fun – not flu.

Hundreds of brightly-coloured posters will appear in buildings across the Wee County, including schools, health centres, community pharmacies and libraries to highlight the start of the 2014 childhood flu immunisation campaign.

The NHS crusade will also be backed by national TV, radio and press advertisements which will run for several weeks across the country.

The free nasal flu spray, which is quick to administer and pain-free, is being offered to all youngsters between the ages of two and 11 although alternative forms are available for children who cannot have the nasal spray.

Primary school pupils will be offered the vaccine at either their primary school or feeder secondary school and parents are being asked to look out for, and return, the consent form which will be sent in their child’s school bag. Those aged two to five-years will be immunised at their GP practice and parents will start receiving invitation letters from their local GP surgery from October 2014 onwards.

NHS Forth Valley consultant in public health medicine, Dr Henry Prempeh, said, “Flu can be very serious as even healthy children can become very unwell and, in some cases, may require to be admitted to hospital for treatment.

“I would therefore encourage parents across Forth Valley to take up the offer of this free vaccine. It’s safe, quick and painless, and offers protection against the types of virus that are most likely to be circulating this winter.” For more info, check out www.immunisationscotland.org.uk/childflu or call NHS Inform on 0800 22 44 88.