What is flu and what is the flu vaccine?

Advice and Information - 2 October 2023

As we enter Flu season it's important you know what the symptoms of flu are, and what the flu vaccine is, so you can make informed decisions about your health.

What is the flu?

Flu is a contagious respiratory illness that infects the nose, throat and sometimes the lungs. It can cause mild to severe symptoms, which often come on suddenly. For some people, Flu can be dangerous and even life-threatening.

Symptoms of the Flu can come on quickly and can include a sudden, high temperature, body aches, and a sore throat or dry cough.

Children can present the same symptoms but may also experience ear pain and appear less active.

Who can have the flu vaccine?

The flu vaccine is free on the NHS to people who are:

aged 65 years and over
aged 6 months to under 65 years in clinical risk groups
pregnant
two or three years on August 31, 2023
primary school-aged
in long-stay residential care homes
carers in receipt of carer's allowance
the primary carer of an elderly or disabled person
close contacts of immunocompromised individuals
frontline workers in a social care setting without an employer-led occupational health scheme

Pneumococcal vaccine

If you're 65 or over, you're also eligible for the pneumococcal vaccine, which will help protect you from pneumonia. Ask your GP surgery.

How do you avoid catching or spreading flu?

Flu is very infectious and easily spread to other people. You're more likely to give it to others in the first 5 days.

To reduce the risk of spreading or catching flu, you should:

get the flu vaccine
wash your hands often with warm water and soap
cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze
bin used tissues as quickly as possible
strengthen your immune system with vitamins

How can you get a flu vaccine?

It is best to have your flu vaccine in the autumn or early winter before flu rates increase. If you're eligible for a free NHS flu vaccine, you can book an appointment at:

your GP surgery
a local pharmacy offering NHS flu vaccines.
some maternity services if you're pregnant.
a hospital that provides a vaccine service

You might also receive an invitation to get vaccinated but do not need to wait for one.

You do not need to be registered with a GP or have an NHS number to get a vaccine. You may be asked to confirm your eligibility for the flu vaccine. No immigration checks are carried out when you receive the vaccine.

Find a pharmacy near you

Flu and coronavirus

As a result of the pandemic, fewer people have a natural immunity to Flu. If you get Flu and COVID-19 simultaneously, you could become seriously ill. It’s therefore important to get your flu and COVID-19 vaccines if you’re eligible.

COVID-19 vaccine information