Who is eligible for a flu vaccine?

Flu is a virus which is more common in winter, is highly infectious and can lead to serious illness. Getting a flu vaccination is safe and gives the best protection from the virus and helps reduce any spread to others.

Who can have the flu vaccine?

The flu vaccine is given free on the NHS every autumn to people who are most at risk of becoming very unwell. Eligible groups are:

  • Children aged 2 or 3
  • Primary school aged children
  • are 65 years old or older
  • under 65 years old in a clinical risk group
  • are pregnant
  • are in long-stay residential care
  • receive a carer’s allowance, or are the main carer for an older or disabled person
  • live with someone who is more likely to get infections (such as someone who has HIV, has had a transplant or is having certain treatments for cancer, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis)
  • frontline health or social care workers

When can I have the flu vaccine?

If you are in one of the following groups you can have a flu vaccine from 1 September 2026:

  • pregnant women
  • all children aged 2 or 3 years
  • 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

Then from October 2026 (exact start date to be confirmed), vaccinations will be offered to all other eligible patients.

Where to get the flu vaccine

You can have a free flu vaccine from the NHS at:

  • your GP surgery
  • a pharmacy offering the service
  • your midwifery service if you’re pregnant
  • a hospital appointment

If you work in frontline health or social care, you should have the flu vaccination at work, or at a pharmacy if you are unable to be vaccinated by your employer.

Read more about the flu vaccine on the NHS website