Have you had your flu vaccination yet?

The flu spreads more easily in winter as we spend more time together indoors: in 2022/2023 over 49,000 people were hospitalised with flu and 2,000 people in England were admitted to intensive care. The best way to protect yourself and the ones you care for is by getting your flu vaccination. It is important to top up your protection, even if you have had a vaccine or been ill with the flu before as immunity fades over time and these viruses change each year.

Who is eligible?

  • carers in receipt of carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person
  • all children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2024
  • pregnant women
  • primary school aged children (from Reception to Year 6)
  • secondary school aged children (from Year 7 to Year 11)
  • all children in clinical risk groups aged from 6 months to less than 18 years
  • those aged 65 years and over
  • those aged 18 years to under 65 years in clinical risk groups (as defined by the Green
    Book, Influenza Chapter 19) – such as diabetes, heart disease, some neurological
    conditions, liver disease or a weakened immune system (for instance due to being
    prescribed steroids or treated for cancer)
  • those in long-stay residential care homes.
  • close contacts of immunocompromised individuals
  • frontline workers in a social care setting without an employer led occupational health
    scheme including those working for a registered residential care or nursing home,
    registered domiciliary care providers, voluntary managed hospice providers and those
    that are employed by those who receive direct payments (personal budgets) or
    Personal Health budgets, such as Personal Assistants

How do I book my vaccine?

You can book your flu vaccination online here:
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/pharmacies/book-flu-vaccination/?wt.mc_id=eva2_007_AW24_flu_general

You can book over the phone for free with the number 119

You can find your local walk in clinic here:
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/pharmacies/find-a-pharmacy-that-offers-free-flu-vaccination/

If you have difficulties communicating or hearing: you can use textphone 18001 or the
NHS 119 British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter service.