Get your Flu Jab

30 million people will be offered the flu vaccine this year, the highest number ever, in a bid to reduce the combined threat of flu and COVID-19.

Research from Public Health England (PHE) undertaken throughout the height of the pandemic, has suggested that people infected with both flu and COVID-19 are more at risk from severe illness and death, and adults at a high risk from flu are also the most at risk from COVID-19, making the vaccine a more important precaution than ever.

The programme is being expanded to help protect people and ease pressure on the NHS and urgent care services and will include;

• All primary school children and, for the first time, Year 7 children will be offered the flu 'nasal spray' in schools to reduce community transmission. Two and three-year olds will be offered the vaccine through their GP.
• The most vulnerable, including adults aged 65 and over, those with long-term health conditions and pregnant women, will be offered the flu vaccine first through their GP or pharmacy.
• The flu vaccine will also be offered to household contacts of people on the NHS Shielded Patient List and all health and social care workers who have direct contact with the people they care for.
• Once uptake has been maximised in the most at-risk groups, the newly eligible 50-64-year olds will be invited for vaccination later in the season. Anyone who is 50-64 years old with a long-term health condition should be vaccinated earlier in the season, in line with all others in risk groups.