How to get your NHS flu vaccine: eligibility, booking info, and start dates

Summer seems long gone after this weekend's rain - and it feels like winter's on the way. This year, the snug season begins on September 22 and concludes on December 21, with many of us keen to curl up under cosy blankets and enjoy Halloween film marathons.

But it's not all about Pumpkin Spice lattes and the crunch of leaves underfoot - it's also time to consider getting your flu jab. Many people are eligible for the vaccine and it will be available soon.

So, who qualifies for the flu jab and how do you go about getting it? Here's everything you need to know.

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Who is eligible for the flu vaccine

The NHS states that the vaccine helps protect against flu "which can be a serious or life-threatening illness" which is why it's crucial to get it when offered. The flu vaccine is recommended for people at higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu.

Health conditions that mean you're eligible for the flu vaccine.

You can get the free NHS flu vaccine from September 1 if you fit the following:

• pregnant women

• all children aged 2 or 3 years old (on 31 August 2024)

• all primary school-aged children (from Reception class to Year 6)

• secondary school-aged children from Years 7 to 11

• all children in clinical risk groups aged from 6 months to less than 18 years

You can get the free NHS flu vaccine from October 3 if you fit the following:

• those aged 18 to under 65 years in clinical risk groups

• those aged 65 years and over

• those in long-stay residential care homes

• carers in receipt of carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person

• close contacts of immunocompromised individuals

• locum GPs

• frontline staff employed by the types of social care providers without employer-led occupational health schemes

• those living in long-stay residential care homes or nursing homes, other long-stay health or social care facilities or a house-bound patient (defined in the ES specification)

Health conditions that mean you're eligible for the flu vaccine

GOV.UK says that the below are examples of clinical risk groups. This includes:

• chronic (long-term) respiratory disease, such as asthma (requires continuous or repeated use of inhaled or systemic steroids or with previous exacerbations requiring hospital admission), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or bronchitis

• chronic neurological disease, such as Parkinson’s disease or motor neurone disease

• a weakened immune system due to disease (such as HIV/AIDS) or treatment (such as cancer treatment)

• morbidly obese (defined as BMI of 40 and above)

• chronic heart disease, such as heart failure

• chronic kidney disease at stages 3, 4 or 5

• chronic liver disease

• a learning disability

• diabetes and adrenal insufficiency

• splenic dysfunction or asplenia

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You should talk to your GP surgeon or specialist if you have a health condition and you're unsure if you're eligible for the flu vaccine.

How and when can I get the flu vaccine?

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)

Certain individuals may be eligible to receive the vaccine through their maternity service or care home. The NHS typically sends out notifications in the autumn or early winter about when you can get your flu jab. If you haven't received any communication but believe you're eligible, it's advised to have a chat with your GP.

As for the dates for getting your vaccine, gov.uk states that adults can expect it within the next few weeks. They say: "This year there has been a change to when the flu vaccination programme for adults starts, with most adults to be offered a vaccine from 3 October. The only exceptions to this later start date are for pregnant women and children who should continue to be offered vaccination from September, and under exceptional clinical circumstances where earlier vaccination may be appropriate."

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You can book or cancel a free NHS flu vaccination at a pharmacy here. This service will be open from 23 September 2024. The NHS will contact you if your NHS record suggests you may be eligible for a flu vaccination.

You can call 119 free of charge to book over the phone if you cannot book online and speak to a translator if you need to. You can use textphone 18001 or the NHS 119 British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter service if you have difficulties communicating or hearing, or if you are a BSL user.