Find out more about flu vaccination and why it’s important
“The flu vaccine is offered every year to eligible patients on the NHS to help protect people at risk of flu and its complications”
“Flu will often get better on its own, but it can make some people seriously ill. It’s important to get the flu vaccine if you’re advised to”
More than five million flu vaccinations were carried out in community pharmacies in 2022/23
The flu vaccine is offered every year to eligible patients on the NHS to help protect people at risk of flu and its complications.
It helps 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 vaccine will also stop you spreading flu to other people who may be more at risk of serious problems. It can take 10 to 14 days for the flu vaccine to work.
More than five million flu vaccinations were carried out in community pharmacies in 2022/23.
ENGLAND
The flu vaccine is given free on the NHS to adults who:
Are aged 65 years and over
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.
You should talk to your doctor if you have a long-term health condition that is not included in one of the health conditions eligible for the vaccine. They should offer you a flu vaccine if they think you’re at risk of serious health problems if you get flu. Also, your pharmacy might be able to provide a vaccine under a private service.
This is not the complete list of eligible groups. More information is available via www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/flu-influenza-vaccine
SCOTLAND
NHS Scotland recommends a person has the flu vaccine if they:
- are aged 65 years and over
- are aged 18–64 with an eligible health condition
- work in social care and deliver direct personal care
- are a frontline healthcare worker
- are a carer (including unpaid carer)
This is not the complete list of eligible groups. For more information on eligibility and how to receive a vaccination, visit the NHS Inform website (www.nhsinform.scot).
WALES
In Wales you are advised to have a flu vaccine if:
- You are pregnant
- You are aged 65 or over
- You are aged six months to 64 years and have a long-term health condition that puts you at increased risk from flu, including but not limited to:
o Diabetes
o A heart problem
o A chest complaint or breathing difficulties, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma that requires regular steroid inhalers or tablets
o Kidney disease (from stage 3)
o Lowered immunity due to disease or treatment (and also close contacts of people in this group)
o Liver disease
o Had a stroke or mini stroke
o A neurological condition like Parkinson’s disease, or motor neurone disease
o A missing spleen or a problem with it
o Learning disability
o Severe mental illness
o Morbidly obese (class III obesity). This is defined as those with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or above, aged 16 or over.
o Epilepsy
- You live in a care home or you are a carer or a health or social care worker
- You are homeless
Vaccinations are available from GPs and community pharmacies, in most cases. For full information on eligibility in Wales, visit the Public Health Wales website (phw.nhs.wales)
NORTHERN IRELAND
In Northern Ireland you should get a flu vaccination if you:
- Are pregnant
- Are aged 65 or over, even if you are fit and healthy
- Live in a residential or nursing home
- Have and illness or underlying condition (including children from six months of age)
The annual flu vaccination programme also includes:
- all preschool children aged two year to four years old on 1 September
- children at primary school and secondary school (up to and including Year 12)
- carers – if you care for another person, you should be vaccinated so you can continue caring for them
- frontline health and social care (HSC) workers
- staff in independent care homes, hospices and domiciliary care providers
- close contacts of immuno-compromised individuals
- Children over six months old and adults with underlying health conditions as specified.
This is not the complete list of eligible groups. People living in Northern Ireland should visit www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/flu-vaccine for more details on how and where to receive the flu vaccination.
Who should not have the flu vaccine?
Anyone who has had a serious allergic reaction to a flu vaccine (or any part of it) in the past should avoid it.
Some flu vaccines are made using eggs, so anyone with an egg allergy may be a risk of an allergic reaction to the flu vaccine. You can ask your pharmacist for a low-egg or egg-free vaccine.
If you have a high temperature, wait until you’re better before having the flu vaccine.
Flu will often get better on its own, but it can make some people seriously ill. It’s important to get the flu vaccine if you’re advised to.
What to do if you get flu
If you have flu, there are some things you can do to help get better more quickly:
- rest and sleep
- keep warm
- take paracetamol or ibuprofen to lower your temperature and treat aches and pains
- drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration (your pee should be light yellow or clear)
A pharmacist can give treatment advice and recommend flu remedies.
Do not take paracetamol and flu remedies that contain paracetamol at the same time as it’s easy to take more than the recommended dose.
Antibiotics do not work for viral infections such as flu. They will not relieve your symptoms or speed up your recovery.
