Anyone aged 65 years or older is eligible for a flu jab, or if you're in one of the vulnerable groups.
The flu vaccine is offered every year through the NHS to help protect people at risk of getting seriously ill from flu.
Wherever possible COVID-19 and flu vaccines are to be administered at the same time.
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.
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.
Help protect yourself, others and the NHS by getting vaccinated to boost your protection against these viruses.
Get your flu jab
Flu viruses can change from one winter to the next. Flu vaccines are updated for each winter to give protection against the strains of flu that are most likely to be going around. You should get vaccinated each year.
To get the flu jab you can either:
- Wait to be contacted by your GP if you're eligible, or if you're 65 years or over you can contact your GP. Find your local GP or pharmacy
- Book or manage a free NHS flu vaccination at a pharmacy
- More about COVID-19 vaccinations
Who can get a flu jab
From Sunday, 1 September 2024, flu vaccinations will be offered to:
- Pregnant women
- All children aged 2 or 3 years old on Saturday, 31 August 2024
- Primary and secondary-aged school children – from Reception to Year 11
- All children in clinical risk groups aged from 6 months and younger than 18 years
From Thursday, 3 October 2024, flu vaccinations will also be offered to:
- People aged 65 and over
- People aged 18–65 in clinical risk groups
- People in long-stay residential care homes
- Carers receiving carer's allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person
- Close contacts of people with compromised immune systems
- Frontline workers in social care settings
How to get the flu vaccine
Wherever possible COVID-19 and flu vaccines are to be administered at the same time
If you're eligible for an NHS flu vaccine, you can get your vaccine from:
- Your GP surgery
- A pharmacy that offers NHS flu vaccination (if you're aged 18 or over)
Some people may be able to get the vaccine through their maternity service or care home.
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.