Flu vaccination
The flu vaccine helps protect against flu, which can be a serious or life-threatening illness. It’s offered on the NHS every year in autumn or early winter to people at higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu.
This page is about the flu vaccine for adults.
Visit the Frimley Healthier Together website for information about the children’s flu vaccine.
Visit the Frimley Health maternity website for information about the flu jab in pregnancy.
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
- 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 can also get a flu vaccine through their employer and social care workers via their GP or pharmacy.
The flu vaccine is recommended for people with certain long-term health conditions, including:
- conditions that affect your breathing, such as asthma (needing a steroid inhaler or tablets), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or cystic fibrosis
- heart conditions, such as coronary heart disease or heart failure
- chronic kidney disease
- liver disease, such as cirrhosis or hepatitis
- some conditions that affect your brain or nerves, such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy
- diabetes or Addison’s disease
- a weakened immune system due to a condition such as HIV or AIDS, or due to a treatment such as chemotherapy or steroid medicine
- problems with your spleen, such as sickle cell disease, or if you’ve had your spleen removed
- a learning disability
- being very overweight – a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or above
Speak to your GP surgery or specialist if you have a health condition and you’re not sure if you’re eligible for the flu vaccine.
You can have the flu vaccine at the same time as other vaccines, such as COVID-19 and shingles vaccine.
Most eligible adults will be able to get the flu vaccine from 3 October 2024
This may be later than you've had the vaccine before, but it means you'll have the best protection when flu is most widespread.
Some people may have their vaccination from September 2024, including if:
- you're pregnant (especially if you're near to your due date) – it's important to get vaccinated before giving birth to help protect yourself and your baby for the first few months of their life
- you're due to have treatment that will weaken your immune system (such as chemotherapy) – the vaccine may be given before treatment starts because it works better if given when your immune system is stronger
Speak to your GP surgery for advice if you think you need to have the vaccine earlier than October.
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
Frontline health and social care workers can also get a flu vaccine through their employer. If you cannot get a flu vaccine through your employer, you can get it at a pharmacy or your GP surgery if you’re employed:
- by a registered residential care or nursing home
- by a registered domiciliary care provider
- by a voluntary managed hospice provider
- through direct payments or personal health budgets
The NHS will let you know in autumn or early winter when you can get your flu vaccine. Speak to your GP surgery if you have not been contacted, but you think you are eligible.
Visit the NHS.uk website for more information on the flu vaccination.