Staying well during winter: Flu vaccine
As the colder months approach, so does the annual increase in flu cases. Colder weather brings people indoors at work, at school, and on public transport. This makes it easier for viruses like flu to spread. Getting a flu vaccine is the best way to help protect yourself, your loved ones, and the wider community. The flu vaccine is estimated to have prevented around 96,000 to 120,200 people from being hospitalised in England last winter.
Getting vaccinated reduces the risk of serious illness if you have a long-term condition like COPD, asthma or cardiovascular disease. For people with cardiovascular disease, the flu vaccine is as important as statins, smoking cessation and medications to lower blood pressure, at preventing heart attacks. (https://heart.bmj.com/content/102/24/1953)
The flu vaccine is recommended annually for people at higher risk of getting seriously ill. Even if you’re healthy, getting vaccinated helps protect more vulnerable people around you.
The NHS recommends flu vaccination for several groups:
- everyone aged 65 or over (including those who will be 65 by 31 March 2026)
- individuals aged 18 to under 65 with certain long-term health conditions
- pregnant women
- care home residents
- carers for older or disabled person, or receive a carer’s allowance
- those who live with someone who has a weakened immune system
- children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2025
- primary school aged children (from Reception to Year 6)
- secondary school aged children (from Year 7 to Year 11)
- children in clinical risk groups aged from 6 months to less than 18 years
If you are eligible, you can access the flu vaccine from:
- your GP surgery
- a pharmacy that offers NHS flu vaccination
- your maternity service (if you’re pregnant)
- your care home (if you live in a care home)
- your employer (if you’re a health or social care worker)
- the school you attend
