Flu vaccination

Flu is a highly infectious and common illness. Symptoms include a high temperature, headache, general aches and pains, a sore throat and tiredness. You can have flu without any symptoms and pass it on to family, friends and people in your community, many of whom may be at increased risk from flu.

Having the flu vaccine is the best way to protect yourself against flu.

Flu vaccination is particularly important this year because:

• more people are likely to get flu this winter as fewer people will have built up natural immunity to it during the Covid-19 pandemic
• if you get flu and Covid-19 at the same time, research shows you're more likely to be seriously ill
• getting vaccinated against flu and Covid-19 will provide protection for you and those around you for both these serious illnesses

Free vaccination

The free flu vaccination is offered on the NHS to those who are at increased risk from the effects of flu including:

• 65 and over
• pregnant
• in a clinical risk group
• in long-stay residential care
• a carer or close contact of someone who is immunocompromised
• a frontline social care worker or someone who provides social care through direct payments or personal health budgets all children aged two to 11

Later in the season flu vaccines will also be offered to:

• all adults aged 50 to 64 years.
• secondary school children in years seven, eight and nine (starting with the youngest first)

You should also make sure you have all your Covid-19 vaccinations and boosters. Find information at NHS: Covid-19 booster vaccine.

Catch it, bin it, kill it

In addition to the flu jab, you can help to prevent the spread of flu by:

• staying at home if you have the symptoms, to avoid spreading infection
• catching any coughs and sneezes in a tissue, throwing the tissue away and washing your hands