The groups eligible for flu vaccination in the 2024 to 2025 flu season from 3 October 2024 include:

• those aged 65 years and over (including those who are 64 but will be 65 on or before 31 March 2025)
• those aged 18 years to under 65 years in clinical risk groups (as defined in the Green Book, Chapter 19 (Influenza))
• those in long-stay residential care homes and other long-stay care facilities where rapid spread is likely to follow introduction of infection and cause high morbidity and mortality (this does not include, for example, prisons, young offender institutions, university halls of residence)
• 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
• frontline workers in a social care setting without employer led occupational health schemes including those working for:
  • a registered residential care or nursing home
  • registered domiciliary care providers
  • voluntary managed hospice providers
  • those that are employed by those who receive direct payments (personal budgets) or Personal Health Budgets, such as Personal Assistants.

Who should have a flu vaccine?

Flu vaccination is recommended for those who are most at risk of serious complications if they get flu:

• everyone aged 65 years and over
• everyone under 65 years of age who has a medical condition listed below, including children and babies over 6 months of age
• all pregnant women, at any stage of pregnancy
• all children aged 2 and 3 years (provided they were aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August before flu vaccinations starts in the autumn)
• all children in primary school
• some secondary school-aged children (Years 7 to 11)
• everyone living in a residential or nursing home
• everyone who receives a carer’s allowance, or are the main carer for an older or disabled person
• all those living with someone who has lowered immunity due to disease or treatment
• all frontline health and social care workers

Why do I have to wait until October for my flu vaccine?

This year most eligible adults will be offered a flu vaccine from early October, which might be slightly later than in previous years. This is because the latest scientific evidence shows that protection from the flu vaccine decreases over time in adults. It is better to have the vaccine closer to when flu typically circulates.

Having the vaccine every flu season

If you had the flu vaccination last year, you need another one this year.

The flu viruses can change from one winter to the next. Flu vaccines are updated for each winter to give protection against the strains of flu that are most likely to be going around. For this reason, we strongly recommend that even if you were vaccinated last year, you should be vaccinated again this year.

Also, protection from flu vaccination goes down with time so even if some of the strains are the same you should have a flu vaccine again each flu season.

The vaccine should provide protection throughout the current flu season.

When should pregnant women get vaccinated?

Pregnant women should have the vaccine from September. This is because the protection from the vaccine is passed through the placenta to the baby, giving the baby protection for the first few months of life when they are particularly at risk from flu. Therefore pregnant women shouldn’t delay vaccination, especially those who are heavily pregnant, as babies born during the flu season need to be protected against flu as well the pregnant woman herself.

When should children get vaccinated?

Vaccination for children who are offered a flu vaccine on the NHS will also start from September because their protection from the vaccine doesn’t decrease as quickly as it does in adults.

Are there any other exceptions?

There will be a very small number of people who need to be vaccinated earlier than October. For instance, if someone is about to start chemotherapy in October, it is better for them to have the vaccine before they start their treatment. This is because they will respond better to the vaccine before their immune system becomes weaker.

You should speak to your GP if you think you need to have the vaccine earlier than October and they will decide whether it is appropriate.

When do I need to get my vaccination by?

Flu typically starts to circulate in December so it’s best that you get the vaccine by the end of November as it takes up to 14 days to work. But even if it’s later than November, it is still worth asking whether you can have a flu vaccine.

What should I do now?

For eligible adults, ask your GP practice or a pharmacy that offers NHS flu vaccination when you can book an appointment. You should be able to do this ahead of time. If you are pregnant, you can also ask your midwife.