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 early winter to people at higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu.
Information:This page is about the flu vaccine for adults. There are also pages about the children's flu vaccine and flu jab in pregnancy.
The flu vaccine is recommended for people at higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu.
It's offered on the NHS every year in autumn or early winter.
You can get the free NHS flu vaccine if you:
Frontline health and social care workers can also get a flu vaccine through their employer.
Health conditions that mean you're eligible for the flu vaccine
The flu vaccine is recommended for people with certain long-term health conditions, including:
Speak to your GP surgery or specialist if you have a health condition and you're not sure if you're eligible for the flu vaccine.
Most eligible adults will be able to get the flu vaccine from 3 October 2024.
This may be later than you've had the vaccine before, but it means you'll have the best protection when flu is most widespread.
Some people may have their vaccination from September 2024, including if:
Speak to your GP for advice if you think you need to have the vaccine earlier than October.
If you're eligible for an NHS flu vaccine, you can get your vaccine from:
Some people may be able to get the vaccine through their maternity service or care home.
The NHS will usually let you know in autumn or early winter when you can get your flu vaccine. Speak to your GP surgery if you have not been contacted, but you think you are eligible.
Frontline health or social care workers
Frontline health and social care workers will usually get the flu vaccine through their employer.
If you cannot get a flu vaccine through your employer, you can get it at a pharmacy or your GP surgery if you're employed:
You can have the flu vaccine at the same time as other vaccines such as the COVID-19 and shingles vaccines.
It's not usually given at the same time as the RSV vaccine, but you can have them at the same time if a doctor or nurse thinks it's needed.
Most people who are eligible for the flu vaccine can have it.
You only cannot have the vaccine if you've had a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a previous dose of the vaccine or an ingredient in the vaccine.
Some of the flu vaccines used in the UK contain egg protein. Tell the person vaccinating you if you have an egg allergy.
Information:If you have a high temperature, wait until you're feeling better before having your flu vaccine.
There are several types of flu vaccine given in the UK. If you're eligible for the flu vaccine on the NHS, you'll be offered one of the types that's most appropriate for you.
You can check the ingredients in the patient leaflets.
Vaccines for people aged 65 and overThe most common side effects of the flu vaccine are mild and get better within 1 to 2 days.
They can include:
More serious side effects such as a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) are very rare. The person who vaccinates you will be trained to deal with allergic reactions and treat them immediately.
The injected flu vaccines used in the UK do not contain live flu viruses. They cannot give you flu.
Information:The flu vaccine aims to protect you against the most common types of flu viruses.
There's still a chance you might get flu after getting vaccinated, but it's likely to be milder and not last as long.
The vaccine usually takes up to 14 days to work.
Protection from the flu vaccine goes down with time and the types of flu virus the vaccine protects against are updated each year. This is why it's important to get the flu vaccine every year.
Page last reviewed: 23 November 2023
Next review due: 23 November 2026