Flu vaccination

Those eligible for a flu vaccine include:

• care home residents
• adults aged 65 years and over
• pregnant women
• all children aged two or three on 31 August 2025
• primary school children (Reception to Year 6)
• secondary school children (Year 7 to 11)
• those who care for an older or disabled person
• individuals who are immunosuppressed
• frontline health and social care workers
• people under 65-years-old with certain medical conditions.

The children's nasal spray flu vaccine is given in schools by a community immunisation team.

Babies and children aged six months to two years with certain health conditions will be offered a flu vaccine injection instead of the nasal spray.

Find out more and book a community clinic for children aged two or three, primary school children and secondary school children.

The best time to have a flu vaccine is in the autumn before flu starts spreading. The seasonal flu campaign runs from September to March. 

You can have a free NHS flu vaccine at:

• your GP surgery
• a pharmacy offering the service (if you're aged 18 or over)
• some maternity services, if you're pregnant
• catch-up community clinics (for children). 

Health and social care staff are eligible for the free flu vaccine this autumn.

If you are vaccinated but catch flu this winter, you are likely to have milder symptoms, recover faster and miss less time at work.

You are eligible for the vaccine if:
•    you work in a care home for older adults
•    you work as a frontline health worker.

The winter vaccine programme is targeted at those delivering direct care, whether employed by an NHS provider, local council, independent or third sector employers.

The flu vaccine is available at your local pharmacy. Find a pharmacy offering the flu jab.

Please take your employee ID badge or proof of employment to your vaccine appointment, in case it is requested.