Flu
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 winter to people at higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu.
Flu symptoms:
Flu symptoms come on very quickly and can include:
- a sudden high temperature of 38C or above
- an aching body
- feeling tired or exhausted
- a dry cough
- a sore throat
- a headache
- difficulty sleeping
- loss of appetite
- diarrhoea or tummy pain
- feeling sick and being sick
The symptoms are similar for children, but they can also get pain in their ear and appear less active.
To book, change or cancel a free NHS flu vaccination at a pharmacy visit: Book, change or cancel a free NHS flu vaccination at a pharmacy - NHS
To find out more information about the flu vaccine visit: Flu vaccine - NHS
The following groups are eligible to receive a flu vaccination as per JCVI guidance:
From 1 September 2026:
• pregnant women
• children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2025
• primary and secondary school aged children (from Reception to Year 11)
• all children in clinical risk groups aged from 6 months to less than 18 years
From 1 October 2026:
• those aged 65 years and over
• those aged 18 years to under 65 years in clinical risk groups (as defined by theGreen Book, Influenza chapter 19e.g. chronic respiratory disease, cardiac disease, diabetes, immunosuppressed)
• those in long-stay residential care homes
• carers
• frontline health and social care workers.
If you are eligible for the NHS flu vaccine, you can:
- contact your GP surgery to book an appointment
- book a free NHS flu vaccination appointment at a pharmacy 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)
Some people may be able to get vaccinated through their maternity service or care home, or through their employer if they're a frontline health or social care worker.
The children's flu nasal spray vaccine helps protect against flu. It's offered to children aged 2 to 3 years, school-aged children (Reception to Year 11) and children with certain long-term health conditions.
Flu can be very unpleasant for children and can sometimes cause serious problems, such as pneumonia or acute bronchitis. Each winter in the UK, thousands of children who do not have a health condition need hospital care because of flu. Children can catch and spread flu easily. Vaccinating them also helps protect others who are at higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu, such as babies, anyone who's pregnant and older people.
The children's flu vaccine is offered on the NHS every year in autumn or early winter.
It's recommended for:
- children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2025 (born between 1 September 2021 and 31 August 2023)
- school-aged children (Reception to Year 11)
- children aged 6 months to 17 years with certain long-term health conditions
To get the vaccination:
Children aged 2 or 3 year old on 31 August 2025
To get a FREE flu nasal spray vaccine for a child aged 2 or 3 years old, you can:
- contact their GP surgery to book an appointment
- book a free NHS flu vaccination at a pharmacy online or in the NHS App
- find a pharmacy that offers free NHS flu vaccination where your child can get vaccinated without an appointment (walk-in), a list of pharmacies that offer this service can be found here.
School aged children (Reception to Year 11)
Children at primary and secondary school (Reception to Year 11) will be offered the flu nasal spray at school. You should get an invitation from your child's school or the School Age Immunisation Service to get their vaccine, usually during the autumn term. This will be an online consent form you will receive through your school, which you will need to complete. If your child misses their vaccination at school or if they are home-schooled, they should be offered a flu vaccine at a community clinic.
If your child is 4 years old but has not started school yet, they can get vaccinated at either:
- a community clinic – if they turned 4 years of age on or before 31 August 2025
- their GP surgery or a pharmacy that offers flu vaccination – if they turned 4 years of age after 31 August 2025
Children with certain long-term health conditions
Children with certain long-term health conditions that put them at higher risk from flu can get a flu vaccine from their:
- school (if they're in Reception to Year 11)
- GP surgery
If your child is in Reception to Year 11, they should get an invitation from their school or the School Age Immunisation Service to have the vaccine, usually during the autumn term.
If your child is not in school or you want to vaccinate your child earlier than when it's offered at school, contact their GP surgery in autumn or early winter to book an appointment.
For more information visit:
Protect yourself against flu – information for those in secondary school - GOV.UK
You should have the flu vaccine if you’re pregnant to help protect you and your baby.
It’s safe to have a flu vaccine at any stage of pregnancy.
The flu vaccine is offered free on the NHS to people with certain long-term health conditions, including:
- respiratory conditions, such as asthma (needing a steroid inhaler or tablets), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including emphysema and bronchitis
- diabetes
- heart conditions, such as coronary heart disease or heart failure
- being very overweight – a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or above
- chronic kidney disease
- liver disease, such as cirrhosis or hepatitis
- some neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), or cerebral palsy
- a learning disability
- problems with your spleen like sickle cell disease, or if you’ve had your spleen removed
- a weakened immune system as a result of conditions such as HIV and AIDS, or taking medicines such as steroid tablets or chemotherapy
Talk to your doctor if you have a long-term health condition that is not in one of these groups. They should offer you a flu vaccine if they think you’re at risk of serious health problems if you get flu.
When an infected person coughs or sneezes, they spread the flu virus in tiny droplets of saliva over a wide area. These droplets can then be breathed in by other people or they can be picked up by touching surfaces where the droplets have landed.
You can prevent the spread of the virus by covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and you can wash your hands frequently or use hand gels to reduce the risk of picking up the virus.
But the best way to avoid catching and spreading flu is by having the vaccination before the flu season starts.
- The flu vaccine gives the best protection against flu
- Flu vaccines help protect against the main types of flu viruses, although there’s still a chance you might get flu
- If you do get flu after vaccination, it’s likely to be milder and not last as long
- Having the flu vaccine will also stop you spreading flu to other people who may be more at risk of serious problems from flu
- It can take 10 to 14 days for the flu vaccine to work
For more information, visit the NHS website.
Protect yourself and the person you care for
Every year, the flu virus changes and spreads easily. For people who are older, frail, or living with long term conditions, flu can be serious – even life-threatening. As someone who provides unpaid care, you play a vital role in helping to protect the health of someone who may be more vulnerable to flu complications.
Why the flu vaccine matters for carers
- Protect yourself
Getting flu could leave you unwell for days or even weeks. As a carer, it may not be easy to take time off to rest and recover. The flu vaccine helps reduce your chances of getting seriously ill and needing time away from the person you care for. - Protect the person you care for
You could pass the flu virus on without realising. Even if your symptoms are mild, they could be severe for the person you support, especially if they are older or have a long term condition. - Stay well this winter
Being vaccinated helps you stay well and continue providing care safely through the colder months when flu is most likely to spread.
How to get your free flu vaccination
You can get your vaccine from your GP surgery or a participating pharmacy from October. Let them know you’re an unpaid carer when you book.
👉 Book, change or cancel a free NHS flu vaccination at a pharmacy - NHS
