Common questions about flu vaccinations

The flu vaccine is offered free on the NHS to people with certain long-term health conditions, including:

• respiratory conditions, such as asthma (needing a steroid inhaler or tablets), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including emphysema and bronchitis
• diabetes
• heart conditions, such as coronary heart disease or heart failure
• being very overweight – a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or above
• chronic kidney disease
• liver disease, such as cirrhosis or hepatitis
• some neurological conditions, such as Parkinson's disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), or cerebral palsy
• a learning disability
• problems with your spleen like sickle cell disease, or if you've had your spleen removed
• a weakened immune system as a result of conditions such as HIV and AIDS, or taking medicines such as steroid tablets or chemotherapy

Talk to your doctor if you have a long-term health condition that is not in one of these groups. They should offer you a flu vaccine if they think you're at risk of serious health problems if you get flu.

The flu virus is very infectious, so if there is an outbreak, it can be hard to avoid unless you have natural immunity to it.

The flu vaccine is the best defence available against the flu, providing up to 90% complete protection. Hand washing and trapping coughs and sneezes in a tissue, and then binning the tissue will also help avoid the spread of infection.

No.

The vaccine contains no live flu virus so it is impossible for it to give you the flu.

The vaccine contains a viral protein that enables your immune system to make antibodies. These antibodies help protect you against the strains of the flu virus most likely to hit the UK this flu season as predicted by the World Health Organisation.

Protection starts to develop about a week after receiving the vaccine.

Discomfort is minimal but occasionally slight soreness at the injection site, or a slight temperature or headache 24 hours after the jab may be experienced. Serious side effects are extremely uncommon.

No, the viruses that cause colds are different from the ones that cause flu.

Yes, no matter how fit and healthy the individual is, they can end up in bed with the flu.

No. The flu virus is constantly changing, so each year the vaccine is slightly different.

A small number of patients may not be suitable for the flu vaccination. The pharmacist will provide full advice during your consultation prior to undertaking the vaccination.

Flu vaccination is important because:

• If you're at higher risk from coronavirus, you're also more at risk of problems from the flu.
• If you get flu and coronavirus at the same time, research shows you're more likely to be seriously ill.
• It'll help to reduce pressure on the NHS and social care staff who may be dealing with coronavirus.
• If you've had COVID-19, it's safe to have the flu vaccine. It'll be effective at helping to prevent the flu.

(Source: NHS.UK - Flu vaccine - NHS www.nhs.uk)

Yes, but it focuses its effort on specific groups such as the over 65s. Healthy working adults only receive a flu vaccine if provided by their employer or if they choose to pay for it privately.

Influenza is a family of viruses which affect humans, pigs and birds, producing the illnesses “flu”. Swine flu and Bird Flu are variants.

A flu epidemic is when a high proportion of people get influenza, often as a result of a significant change in the flu virus. A flu pandemic occurs when a major change to the flu virus emerges, for which worldwide, patients have little defence.