Flu is always unpredictable and this season it is particularly unpredictable, with cases rising much faster, much earlier than usual.
The influenza virus can be life-threatening, spread more easily in winter and it’s easy for us to pass the virus on without knowing.
The best way to stay protected is by getting the flu vaccine.
You can get the NHS flu vaccine now if you:
- are aged 65 years and over (or will turn 65 by 31 March 2026);
- are aged 18 to under 65 with certain long-term health conditions (check online for more details);
- are a care home resident (although NHS staff will visit many care homes to provide vaccinations to residents);
- are a carer in receipt of carer’s allowance, or you are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person;
- live with someone who has a weakened immune system;
- are a frontline health or social care worker;
- are pregnant;
- are a child who was aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2025;
- are a child with certain long-term health conditions or in a clinical risk group (aged 6 months to less than 18 years);
- are a school-aged child (from Reception to Year 11).
If you’re eligible for a free NHS flu vaccination, you can:
- contact your GP surgery to book an appointment;
- book your free NHS flu vaccination appointment, either online or in the NHS App (if you’re aged 18 or over);
- find a pharmacy that offers free NHS flu vaccination where you can walk in and get vaccinated without an appointment (if you’re aged 18 or over).
If you’re pregnant, you may be able to get your flu vaccination through your maternity service. Ask them for more details.
In most cases, school-aged children will be offered their flu vaccinations at school. There will be further opportunities for children to be vaccinated in NHS community clinics (for those educated at home, or who were unwell on the day the immunisation team visited their school); you can check online for details of venues near you. You can read more about the children’s flu vaccination programme on the NHS website.
Remember that flu can be very unpleasant and can sometimes cause serious problems such as pneumonia. Every winter, thousands of adults and thousands of children end up in hospital because of flu. Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself from serious illness.
Even if you had the flu vaccination last year, you need another one this year, if you are eligible. Remember that the flu virus can change from one year to the next, and vaccines are updated each year to give protection against the strains of flu which are most likely to be going around. Protection from the vaccination goes down over time, too. Therefore, it is recommended that you get vaccinated annually to ensure broad and safe immunity against the most common flu strains.
Who is eligible and why do we need the flu vaccine?
Carers and the flu vaccination
Flu can be easily spread (even if you are not showing symptoms) to those around you who are vulnerable and for whom you have caring responsibilities. If you are in receipt of a carer’s allowance or are the main carer of an older or disabled person you are eligible for the free flu vaccination. Ask your pharmacist or GP.
Dr Sarah Whiteman explains why it is so important for carers to get vaccinated and how you can access a free flu vaccination as a carer – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LUGu5b7HYc
Mythbusting Information
Flu Vaccine – Mythbusting for Adults
Flu Vaccine – Mythbusting for Children
Flu vaccination – Who needs it and why?
A number of local health professionals have created videos in various languages to explain the flu vaccination, who needs it and why. You find these linked below:
Useful information about the flu vaccine
If you need an easy read version of the information above, please download our leaflet and poster:
If you need an audio version of the information above, you can download the following files:
Flu Vaccine, who should have it and why audio file
Protect your child from flu audio file
If you need BSL version of the information above, please download the following files:
Protect your child from flu leaflet – British Sign Language (BSL) version
Flu vaccination, who needs it and why leaflet – British Sign Language version
BSL – Dr Sarah Whiteman talks about the importance of getting your flu jab
If you need a large print version of the information above, please download:
Large Print Flu_vaccination who should have it and why
Large Print Protect_your_child_against_flu
Leaflets have also been created in various languages. Please download:
- Bengali PHE_Flu_Vaccination_12pp_A5_booklet_2020
- Flu_Vaccination_who_needs_it_and_why_12pp_A5_booklet_2020
- Gujarati PHE_Flu_Vaccination_12pp_A5_booklet_2020_0
- Hindi_PHE_Flu_Vaccination_12pp_A5_booklet_2020
- Polish PHE_Flu_Vaccination_12pp_A5_booklet_2020_0
- Punjabi_PHE_Flu_Vaccination_12pp_A5_booklet_2020_0
- Romanian PHE_Flu_Vaccination_12pp_A5_booklet_2020
- Urdu PHE_Flu_Vaccination_12pp_A5_booklet_2020_0
Information for Parents and Carers
Various leaflets have been created in different languages for parents and carers explaining the flu vaccination for children. Please download:
- Bengali Protecting_Your_Child_Against_Flu_
- Childrens vaccination_Flu_5_reasons_poster_2020_2021
- Gujarati Protecting_Your_Child_Against_Flu_
- Hindi_Protecting_Your_Child_Against_Flu
- Paper-5.0 GB Action Tracker Part 1
- Polish Protecting_Your_Child_Against_Flu_
- Protecting_Child_Against_Flu_DL_leaflet_20
- Urdu_Protecting_Your_Child_Against_Flu_