Who should have the flu vaccine
The flu vaccine is recommended for people at higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu.
It's offered on the NHS every year in autumn or early winter.
You can get the free NHS flu vaccine if you:
- are aged 65 or over (including those who will be 65 by 31 March 2025)
- have certain long-term health conditions
- are pregnant
- live in a care home
- are the main carer for an older or disabled person, or receive a carer's allowance
- live with someone who has a weakened immune system
Frontline health and social care workers can also get a flu vaccine through their employer.
How to get the flu vaccine
If you're eligible for an NHS flu vaccine, you can:
Some people may be able to get vaccinated through their maternity service, care home, or their employer if they are a frontline health or social care worker.
The last date you will be able to get your flu vaccination is 31 March 2025, but it's best to get vaccinated sooner to protect yourself during winter.
Having the flu vaccine at the same time as other vaccines
You can have the flu vaccine at the same time as other vaccines such as the COVID-19 and shingles vaccines.
It's not usually given at the same time as the RSV vaccine, but you can have them at the same time if a doctor or nurse thinks it's needed.
Who cannot have the flu vaccine
Most people who are eligible for the flu vaccine can have it.
You only cannot have the vaccine if you've had a serious allergic reaction (Anaphylaxis) to a previous dose of the vaccine or an ingredient in the vaccine.
Some of the flu vaccines used in the UK contain egg protein. Tell the person vaccinating you if you have an egg allergy.
Getting vaccinated if you're unwell
If you have a high temperature, wait until you're feeling better before having your flu vaccine.
Side effects of the flu vaccine
The most common side effects of the flu vaccine are mild and get better within 1 to 2 days.
They can include:
- pain or soreness where the injection was given
- a slightly raised temperature
- an aching body
More serious side effects such as a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) are very rare. The person who vaccinates you will be trained to deal with allergic reactions and treat them immediately.
The injected flu vaccines used in the UK do not contain live flu viruses. They cannot give you flu.
More about vaccine safety
Find out more about why vaccinations are important and the safest way to protect yourself
How well the flu vaccine works and how long it lasts
The flu vaccine aims to protect you against the most common types of flu viruses.
There's still a chance you might get flu after getting vaccinated, but it's likely to be milder and not last as long.
The vaccine usually takes up to 14 days to work.
Protection from the flu vaccine goes down with time and the types of flu virus the vaccine protects against are updated each year. This is why it's important to get the flu vaccine every year.
At-risk groups
It is recommended that you have a flu jab if you fall into one or more of the following categories:
- are 65 years old or over (including those becoming age 65 years by 31 March 2018)
- all pregnant women (including those women who become pregnant during the flu season)
- all those aged two, three, and four years old (but not five years or older) on 1 September 2017
- all school-aged children who are part of the pilot childhood programme
- have a serious medical condition (see below)
- are living in a long-stay residential care home or other long-stay care facility (not including prisons, young offender institutions or university halls of residence)
- people who are in receipt of a carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an older or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the carer falls ill
- are a frontline health or social care worker (see below)
If you are the parent of a child who is over six months old and has a long-term condition on the list below, speak to your GP about the flu vaccine. Your child's condition may get worse if they catch flu.
Pregnant women
It is recommended that all pregnant women should have the flu vaccine, whatever stage of pregnancy they're in.
This is because there is good evidence that pregnant women have an increased risk of developing complications if they get flu, particularly from the H1N1 strain.
Studies have shown that the flu vaccine can be safely and effectively given during any trimester of pregnancy. The vaccine does not carry risks for either the mother or baby. In fact, studies have shown that mothers who have had the vaccine while pregnant pass some protection to their babies, which lasts for the first few months of their lives.
People with medical conditions
The flu vaccine is offered free to anyone who is over six months of age and has one of the following medical conditions:
If you live with someone who has a weakened immune system, you may also be able to have a flu vaccine. Speak to your GP about this.
Frontline health or social care workers
Employers are responsible for ensuring that arrangements are in place for frontline healthcare staff to have the flu vaccine.
Outbreaks of flu can occur in health and social care settings, and staff, patients and residents are at risk of infection.
Frontline health and social care staff should protect themselves by having the flu vaccine to prevent the spread of flu to colleagues and other members of the community.
If you care for someone who is elderly or disabled, speak to your GP about getting vaccinated against seasonal flu. You should also ensure that the person you care for has the flu jab.
Children
An annual nasal spray flu vaccine will be offered to all children aged two, three or four years on 1 September 2017 as part of the NHS childhood vaccination programme
It will also be offered to children aged 2-18 with long-term health conditions like diabetes, heart disease and lung disease.
Children aged six months to 2 years with long-term health conditions aren't able to have the nasal spray and will get the injected flu vaccine instead.
Who should not have the flu vaccination?
You should not have the flu vaccine if you have ever had an allergic reaction to a flu vaccine or one of its ingredients. This happens very rarely.