FLU

Why have I been invited for my flu vaccine?

People with certain conditions are more at risk of getting seriously ill from flu. We invite you for your free NHS flu vaccine if you have

• chronic (long-term) respiratory disease, such as severe asthma, COPD or bronchitis
• chronic heart disease, such as heart failure
• chronic kidney disease at stage three, four or five
• chronic liver disease, such as hepatitis
• chronic neurological disease, such as a stroke, TIA or post-polio syndrome
• diabetes
• a weakened immune system due to conditions such as HIV, or treatments that suppress the immune system such as chemotherapy
• if you live with someone who has a weakened immune system

OR 

• are 65 years old or over
• are pregnant (including those who become pregnant during the flu season)
• all those aged two, three, and four years old (but not five years or older) 
• all school-aged children who are part of the pilot childhood programme
• are living in a long-stay residential care home or other long-stay care facility (not including prisons, young offender institutions or university halls of residence)
• Carers
• are a frontline health or social care worker

Should I get the Flu Vaccination?

Flu is still a highly infectious illness. For most people, flu is unpleasant but not serious. For the groups above there are greater risks of developing complications of flu, such as bronchitis and pneumonia and may require hospitalisation, or, for carers and frontline workers, there is a risk to those we come into contact with. 

The Vaccine is altered each year to tackle the latest strain of the flu. This is why we do the vaccines each year.

If you are eligible for your vaccine we will send you out an invite via text message to book into one of the Flu clinics. These clinics will be held at the practice. For those who do not have a mobile we will contact via email/landline or post. 

Who should not have the flu vaccination?

You should not have the flu vaccine if you have ever had an allergic reaction to a flu vaccine or one of its ingredients. This happens very rarely.

If you have had an egg allergy you should be vaccinated with an egg-free vaccine. 

Depending on the severity of your egg allergy, we may decide to refer you to a specialist for vaccination in hospital.

If you are ill with a fever, do not have your flu jab until you have recovered.

• the flu vaccine for children
• which children can have the flu vaccine?
• children's flu vaccine side effects
• children's flu vaccine frequently asked questions
• Is the Flu Vaccine safe in pregnancy
• Where can I find further information?