Flu vaccination

The flu jab is free if you are 65 or over or a carer. You are also eligible for a free vaccination this year if you, or someone you live with, were advised to shield in line with Corona Virus guidance.

• Know your facts when it comes to Flu
  With coronavirus sticking around, we need to do all we can to protect ourselves and others, reduce illness, and prevent hospital admissions this autumn and winter.
  Flu is a seasonal illness which is usually at its most prevalent from October to March each year.
  Flu is much more than a nasty cold. In England, flu caused over 1700 admissions to hospital in people aged 65 and over in 2018-19.
  As we age, our immune system weakens meaning our body is less able to fight off illnesses. This happens even if we are fit and healthy.
  The best way to protect yourself and others against the flu is with to get the flu vaccine. Antibiotics and other medication won’t help to prevent you from getting it.
  There are different flu strains and so each year the vaccine is created to protect against the most prevalent strain. This is why you should get a new vaccine each year. Don’t believe everything you see or hear – there are a lot of myths around the flu vaccine. Check the facts here 
  Who should get the flu vaccine?
  The following groups can get a flu vaccine for free from their GP, Pharmacy, or other healthcare professional.
  • People aged 65 years or over
  • People living in long-stay residential care homes or other long-stay care facilities
  • People who provide care for an older or disabled person
  • People who live in the same household as those on the NHS Shielded Patient List, or immunocompromised individuals
  • People of any age who have certain health conditions such as
   chronic (long-term) respiratory disease, chronic heart disease, chronic kidney disease, chronic liver disease, or chronic neurological   disease
   learning disability
   diabetes
   splenic dysfunction or asplenia
   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)
  • Pregnant women
  • Children aged two to eleven (as of 31 August 2020)
  • People aged 50-64 may become eligible later in the Autumn. Check on the NHS Flu page to find out when this comes into effect
  •Some care workers: frontline health and social care workers who work in a registered residential care or nursing home, a voluntary managed hospice provider, a registered domiciliary care provider or are employed through Direct Payments (personal budgets) and/or Personal Health Budget