Flu

The flu vaccine is given free on the NHS to adults who:

• are 65 and over (including those who will be 65 by 31 March 2024)
• have certain health conditions
• are pregnant
• are in long-stay residential care
• receive a carer’s allowance, or are the main carer for an older or disabled person who may be at risk if you get sick
• live with someone who is more likely to get a severe infection due to a weakened immune system, such as someone living with HIV, someone who has had a transplant, or is having certain treatments for cancer, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis

The nasal spray flu vaccine is free on the NHS for:

• children aged 2 or 3 years
• all primary school children (reception to year 6)
• all year 7 to year 11 children in secondary school
• children aged 2 to 17 years with long-term health conditions

You can have the NHS flu vaccine at:

• your GP surgery
• a pharmacy offering the service – if you’re aged 18 or over. Find a pharmacy on the NHS website.
• some maternity services if you’re pregnant

Sometimes, you might be offered the flu vaccine at a hospital appointment.

If you have a flu vaccine at any NHS service except your GP surgery, you do not have to tell the surgery to update your records. This will be done for you. If you’ve been given a flu vaccine privately, or through an occupational health scheme, you can tell your GP surgery if you would like it added to your NHS record.

The flu vaccine is offered free on the NHS to people with certain long-term health conditions, including:

• respiratory conditions, such as asthma (needing a steroid inhaler or tablets), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including emphysema and bronchitis
• diabetes
• heart conditions, such as coronary heart disease or heart failure
• being very overweight – a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or above
• chronic kidney disease
• liver disease, such as cirrhosis or hepatitis
• some neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), or cerebral palsy
• a learning disability
• problems with your spleen like sickle cell disease, or if you’ve had your spleen removed
• a weakened immune system as a result of conditions such as HIV and AIDS, or taking medicines such as steroid tablets or chemotherapy

Talk to your doctor if you have a long-term health condition that is not in one of these groups. They should offer you a flu vaccine if they think you’re at risk of serious health problems if you get flu.

You should have the flu vaccine if you’re pregnant to help protect you and your baby.

It’s safe to have a flu vaccine at any stage of pregnancy.

Find out more about flu vaccine in pregnancy

When an infected person coughs or sneezes, they spread the flu virus in tiny droplets of saliva over a wide area. These droplets can then be breathed in by other people or they can be picked up by touching surfaces where the droplets have landed.

You can prevent the spread of the virus by covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and you can wash your hands frequently or use hand gels to reduce the risk of picking up the virus.

But the best way to avoid catching and spreading flu is by having the vaccination before the flu season starts.

• The flu vaccine gives the best protection against flu
• Flu vaccines help protect against the main types of flu viruses, although there’s still a chance you might get flu
• If you do get flu after vaccination, it’s likely to be milder and not last as long
• Having the flu vaccine will also stop you spreading flu to other people who may be more at risk of serious problems from flu
• It can take 10 to 14 days for the flu vaccine to work

For more information, visit the NHS website.

• GOV.UK: flu vaccination: who should have it this winter and why (including how to request an accessible version)
• GOV.UK: flu vaccination easy read guides