Flu vaccine for adults

The flu vaccine helps protect against flu, which can be a serious or life-threatening illness. It’s offered on the NHS every year in autumn or early winter to people at higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu.

This page is about the flu vaccine for adults. There are also pages about the children’s flu vaccine and flu jab in pregnancy.

Who should have the flu vaccine

The flu vaccine is recommended for people at higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu.

You can get the free NHS flu vaccine if you:

  • are aged 65 or over
  • have certain long-term health conditions
  • are pregnant
  • live in a care home
  • are the main carer for an older or disabled person, or receive a carer’s allowance
  • live with someone who has a weakened immune system
  • are a frontline health and social care workers

The flu vaccine is recommended for people with certain long-term health conditions, including:

  • conditions that affect your breathing, such as asthma (needing a steroid inhaler or tablets), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or cystic fibrosis
  • heart conditions, such as coronary heart disease or heart failure
  • chronic kidney disease
  • liver disease, such as cirrhosis or hepatitis
  • some conditions that affect your brain or nerves, such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy
  • diabetes or Addison’s disease
  • a weakened immune system due to a condition such as HIV or AIDS, or due to a treatment such as chemotherapy or steroid medicine
  • problems with your spleen, such as sickle cell disease, or if you’ve had your spleen removed
  • a learning disability
  • being very overweight – a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or above

Speak to your GP surgery or specialist if you have a health condition and you’re not sure if you’re eligible for the flu vaccine.

Important advice:

Having the flu vaccine at the same time as other vaccines

You can have the flu vaccine at the same time as other vaccines such as the COVID-19 vaccine and shingles vaccine.

How to get the flu vaccine

If you’re eligible for an NHS flu vaccine, you can get your vaccine from:

Some people may be able to get the vaccine through their maternity service or care home. Find out more about the flu vaccination if you are pregnant.

Frontline health and social care workers can also get a flu vaccine through their employer. If you cannot get a flu vaccine through your employer, you can get it at a pharmacy or your GP surgery if you’re employed:

  • by a registered residential care or nursing home
  • by a registered domiciliary care provider
  • by a voluntary managed hospice provider
  • through direct payments or personal health budgets

The NHS will let you know in autumn or early winter when you can get your flu vaccine.

Visit the NHS.uk website for more information on the flu vaccination