Who can get free NHS flu jab - full list of people eligible and exact dates

Here is what you request to cognize (Image: Getty)

We're presently enjoying the process extremity of summer, but autumn is conscionable astir the corner. This year, the cosy play kicks disconnected connected September 22 and wraps up connected December 21, with galore of america anxious to snuggle nether blankets and indulge successful Halloween movie marathons. 

But it's not each astir Pumpkin Spice lattes and the crunch of leaves underfoot - it's besides clip to deliberation astir getting your flu jab. Many radical are eligible for the vaccine and it volition beryllium disposable soon. So, who qualifies for the flu jab and however bash you spell astir getting it? Here's everything you request to know.

Who is eligible for the flu vaccine?

The NHS states that the vaccine helps support against flu "which tin beryllium a superior oregon life-threatening illness" which is wherefore it's important to get it erstwhile offered. The flu vaccine is recommended for radical astatine higher hazard of getting earnestly sick from flu.

You tin get the escaped NHS flu vaccine from September 1 if you acceptable the following:

• pregnant women
• all children aged 2 oregon 3 years aged (on 31 August 2024)
• all superior school-aged children (from Reception people to Year 6)
• secondary school-aged children from Years 7 to 11
• all children successful objective hazard groups aged from 6 months to little than 18 years

You tin get the escaped NHS flu vaccine from October 3 if you acceptable the following:

• those aged 18 to nether 65 years successful objective hazard groups
• those aged 65 years and over
• those successful long-stay residential attraction homes
• carers successful receipt of carer’s allowance, oregon those who are the main carer of an aged oregon disabled person
• close contacts of immunocompromised individuals
• locum GPs
• frontline unit employed by the types of societal attraction providers without employer-led occupational wellness schemes
• those surviving successful long-stay residential attraction homes oregon nursing homes, different long-stay wellness oregon societal attraction facilities oregon a house-bound diligent (defined successful the ES specification)

Health conditions that mean you're eligible for the flu vaccine

GOV.UK say that the beneath are examples of objective hazard groups. This includes:

• chronic (long-term) respiratory disease, specified arsenic asthma (requires continuous oregon repeated usage of inhaled oregon systemic steroids oregon with erstwhile exacerbations requiring infirmary admission), chronic obstructive pulmonary illness (COPD) oregon bronchitis
• chronic neurological disease, specified arsenic Parkinson’s illness oregon centrifugal neurone disease
• a weakened immune strategy owed to illness (such arsenic HIV/AIDS) oregon attraction (such arsenic crab treatment)
• morbidly obese (defined arsenic BMI of 40 and above)
• chronic bosom disease, specified arsenic bosom failure
• chronic kidney illness astatine signifier 3, 4 oregon 5
• chronic liver disease
• a learning disability
• diabetes and adrenal insufficiency
• splenic dysfunction oregon asplenia

You should speech to your GP country oregon specializer if you person a wellness information and you're unsure if you're eligible for the flu vaccine.

How and erstwhile tin I get the flu vaccine?

If you're eligible for an NHS flu vaccine, you tin get your vaccine from:

• your GP surgery
• a pharmacy that offers NHS flu vaccination (if you're aged 18 oregon over)

Certain individuals whitethorn beryllium eligible to get the vaccine done their maternity work oregon attraction home. The NHS usually sends retired notifications successful the autumn oregon aboriginal wintertime astir erstwhile you tin get your flu jab. If you haven't received immoderate connection but deliberation you're eligible, it's recommended to person a chat with your GP.

When it comes to the dates for getting your vaccine gov.uk say that adults tin expect it wrong the adjacent fewer weeks. They say: "This twelvemonth determination has been a alteration to erstwhile the flu vaccination programme for adults starts, with astir adults to beryllium offered a vaccine from 3 October. The lone exceptions to this aboriginal commencement day are for large women and children who should proceed to beryllium offered vaccination from September, and nether exceptional objective circumstances wherever earlier vaccination whitethorn beryllium appropriate."

You can book oregon cancel a escaped NHS flu vaccination astatine a pharmacy here. This work volition beryllium unfastened from 23 September 2024. The NHS volition interaction you if your NHS grounds suggests you whitethorn beryllium eligible for a flu vaccination.

You tin telephone 119 escaped of complaint to publication implicit the telephone if you cannot publication online and talk to a translator if you request to. You tin usage textphone 18001 oregon the NHS 119 British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter service if you person difficulties communicating oregon hearing, oregon if you are a BSL user.