They performed to more than 250 pupils from Oak Meadow, Long Knowle, St Andrews and Woodfield primary schools before Wolverhampton Clinical Commissioning Group's Annual General Meeting at Molineux Stadium.
Gazebo's innovative adaptation of the two Flu Fighters stories saw our heroes –the Nurse, played by Fran Richards, Ani (April Hudson) and Daniel (Dominic Thompson) – recall their past encounters with Chilly, Achy and Snotty and recruit local children as Flu Fighters as they prepared for the impending flu invasion this winter.
Each child was given their own copy of the two Flu Fighters books, Flu Fighters Versus Chilly, Achy and Snotty and Flu Fighters in The Battle of Planet Bogey, to keep, and plans are now being drawn up to take the theatrical production into a number of local schools in October and November.
Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: "This was a fabulous production which was both exciting and educational, and really got over to its audience the importance of having their free flu vaccination this winter.
“The children really loved it and we hope they went back to their classrooms and shared what they've learned with their friends and family.
"We are now keen to take this production into more primary and junior schools over the coming weeks to spread the message far and wide."
The Flu Fighters campaign devised by the council, CCG and the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust helped bring about a 13% increase in the number of children who received their free nasal spray in 2018.
This year, all children from Reception to Year 6 at infant, junior and primary schools in Wolverhampton, and all children in special schools, will be offered the free flu vaccination at their school. The vaccine is also available to children aged 2 and 3, and children aged 11 and over with some long term health conditions, through their GP.
Free copies of 2019's tale, Flu Fighters in The Battle of Planet Bogey, are being distributed to all infant, junior and primary school aged children through schools this autumn by Vaccination UK, along with parental consent forms and information about the flu vaccine. Parents are encouraged to return their consent forms as soon as possible.
To find out more about the free nasal spray, and to read and download the first story – Flu Fighters Versus Chilly, Achy and Snotty – please visit Flu Vaccines.
As well as the vaccination for children, people with long-term health conditions, the over 65s, carers and care staff, people in long-stay residential care homes and pregnant women are also eligible for a free vaccine through their GP or pharmacist, while anyone else can get their vaccination from many local pharmacies for a small charge. For more information, please visit Flu Vaccines.
