The flu vaccine is offered every year through the NHS to help protect people at risk of getting seriously ill from flu.
Flu can be unpleasant but if you're otherwise a healthy person it will usually clear up on its own within a week, however, it can be more severe for certain people and can cause serious complications.
Who can get a flu jab
From Thursday, 3 October 2024, flu vaccinations will be offered to:
- Adults:
- Pregnant women
- People aged 65 and over
- People aged 18–65 in clinical risk groups
- People in long-stay residential care homes
- Carers receiving a carer's allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person
- Frontline health and social care workers
- People who are in close contact with anyone who has a compromised immune system
- Children:
- Children aged 2 or 3 years old
- Primary and secondary-aged school children (Reception to Year 11)
- Children in clinical risk groups aged between 6 months–18 years old
How to get a flu jab
If you're eligible for an NHS flu vaccine, you can get your vaccine from:
- Your GP surgery. Find your local GP or pharmacy
- A pharmacy that offers NHS flu vaccination (if you're aged 18 or over). Book or manage a free NHS flu vaccination at a pharmacy
- For children in primary and secondary schools, the flu vaccination is available in schools
- Some people may be able to get the vaccine through their maternity service or care home.
Wherever possible COVID-19 and flu vaccines are to be administered at the same time. More about COVID-19 vaccinations
Why you should get a flu jab
The best way to protect yourself from getting unwell from either flu or COVID-19 is to get vaccinated. According to GOV.UK there is evidence to show that if you get flu and COVID-19 at the same time you are at higher risk of becoming seriously unwell.
Flu viruses can change from one winter to the next. Flu vaccines are updated each winter to give protection against the strains of flu that are most likely to be going around.
Help protect yourself, others and the NHS by getting vaccinated each year to boost your protection against these viruses.
Flu vaccine for adults including frontline health and social care workers
Flu can be more severe for certain people and can cause serious complications.
Find out who's eligible, where to get the flu vaccine and more.
Flu vaccine for children
The children's nasal spray flu vaccine is safe and effective. It's offered every year to children to help protect them against flu.
Find out who's eligible, where to get the flu vaccine and more.
National flu immunisation programme plan
The annual flu letter describes the national flu immunisation programme and outlines which groups are eligible for flu vaccination.