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Flu

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The flu is caused by a virus. Also called ‘influenza’, flu is different from stomach "flu" viruses that cause diarrhoea and vomiting.

Flu is an infection of the nose, throat and lungs, which are part of the respiratory system.

Most people with the flu get better on their own.

Sometimes flu and its complications can be fatal. Some groups of people are at a higher than average risk of having flu complications, including:

  • Young children, especially those age 12 months or younger.
  • People who have chronic illnesses, such as asthma, heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease and diabetes.
  • People who plan to be pregnant, are pregnant or recently gave birth during the flu season.
  • Adults older than age 65.
  • People who live or work in facilities with many other residents. Examples are those in care homes and in the hospital.​​​​​​

Flu FAQs

Yes, you can get a flu vaccination through your GP or at a participating pharmacy until 31 March 2024. NHS Find a Pharmacy

If you are registered as house bound, please contact your GP in the first instance.

The flu vaccine is recommended for people at higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu. It's offered on the NHS every year in autumn or early winter, but you can get it later.

You can get the free NHS flu vaccine if you:

  • · are aged 65 or over (including if you will be 65 by 31 March 2024)
  • · 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
  • · frontline health and social care workers can also get a flu vaccine through their employer.

Ask your GP or pharmacist if you have any questions about this.  You do not have to registered with a GP.

Find a pharmacy

The flu vaccine is an effective way to protect yourself from the flu virus and has a good safety record.

While flu can be unpleasant, for some it can be very dangerous and even life threatening, particularly people with certain health conditions, older people and pregnant women. For them, it can increase the risk of developing more serious illnesses such as bronchitis and pneumonia or can make existing conditions worse. Every winter, thousands die from flu.

Children aged under 5 have one of the highest hospitalisation rates for flu. Last year over 6,000 under 5s in England were hospitalised by flu, and many more needed care in accident and emergency. The vaccine reduces a child’s chance of needing hospital care for flu by around two-thirds.

Having your flu vaccination will reduce your risk of serious illness and help you recover more quickly if you catch the viruses.

Getting the flu vaccines while pregnant helps to protect you and your baby from complications if you catch these viruses.

Those people who want a flu vaccination will be able to do so up to 31 March 2024 and the next round of vaccinations will be around autumn 2024.  You will see more about this in the media or you can check the NHS flu webpage here anytime.

Flu spreads more easily in winter as we spend more time indoors. Catching flu over winter increases the risk of serious illness even further which is why we are encourage all eligible people to get their vaccine as soon as they can.

GP practices and pharmacies get the flu vaccine in batches to make sure that it is widely available. If you are eligible and cannot get an appointment, ask if you can book an appointment for when more vaccines are available.

The vaccines have kept tens of thousands of people out of hospital and helped to save countless lives and they give you better protection than any immunity gained from previous infections. They also help protect your family and other people in your community, by helping to stop diseases spreading.

The flu vaccine has a good safety record, and the side effects are generally mild and do not last for more than a few days. Your safety will always come first and there are rigorous safety standards that have to be met through the approval process.

As with any medicine, vaccines are highly regulated products. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the official UK regulator are globally recognised for requiring the highest standards of safety, quality and effectiveness for medicines and vaccines.

There are checks at every stage in the development and manufacturing process. Vaccines are tested on tens of thousands of people across the world. They are tested on both men and women, on people from different ethnic backgrounds, and of all age groups.

If you think you’ve already had flu once you’ve recovered, you should still get the vaccines as they will still help protect you. The flu virus can change every year and the vaccine is updated every year to try to protect you better. 

Yes.

You can have the flu vaccine at the same time as other vaccines such as the COVID-19 vaccine and shingles vaccine. Ask your GP or pharmacist if you have any questions about this.

Find a pharmacy

Almost everybody can have the flu vaccine, but you should not be vaccinated if you have ever had a serious allergy (e.g. anaphylaxis) to the flu vaccine, or any of their ingredients – you should discuss this with your doctor or pharmacist.

If you are allergic to eggs you may not be able to have certain types of flu vaccine – check with your immuniser. If you have a fever, the vaccination may be delayed until you are better.

If you are eligible for the flu or Covid-19 vaccine based on the JCVI* recommendations, it is important to top up your protection, even if you have had a vaccine or been ill with flu before, as immunity fades over time and flu viruses change each year.

* JCVI – Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation

The vaccines give you additional protection to that gained from previous infections.

The flu vaccine programmes aim to reduce the number of people that get seriously ill and reduce the spread of the virus. The government decide which groups will be eligible for free vaccines on the NHS. Their decision is based on the independent advice of clinical experts in the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) who review the latest clinical evidence and data.

Is porcine (pork) gelatine used in the flu vaccines?

The issue of pork ingredients in some vaccines has raised concerns among some groups, including Muslim, Jewish, vegetarian and vegan communities . You can read the guidance here to provide information about vaccines that contain this product and the alternatives that may be available.

 

Which vaccines contain porcine (pork) gelatine?

In the UK routine immunisation programme, there is one flu vaccines that contain porcine gelatine:

  • · Fluenz® Tetra®, the nasal spray vaccine that protects children against flu

 

Is there an alternatives to this flu vaccine?

Fluenz® Tetra: for healthy children, there is no equivalent vaccine.

There are injectable flu vaccines that do not contain pork gelatine, but these are expected to be less effective than Fluenz® Tetra in children. They may also do less to reduce the spread of flu in the community. These vaccines are only recommended as part of the programme for children and adults who are at high risk of the complications of flu.

No.

Stomach flu, also known as gastroenteritis, is a condition that causes inflammation of the stomach and intestines. The main symptoms of gastroenteritis are:

  • · sudden, watery diarrhoea
  • · feeling sick
  • · vomiting, which can be projectile
  • · a mild fever
  • · loss of appetite

In most cases, people with stomach flu, or viral gastroenteritis, get better on their own without medical treatment. You can treat stomach flu by replacing lost fluids and electrolytes to prevent dehydration. In some cases, over-the-counter medicines may help relieve your symptoms, check with your pharmacist or GP.

Find a pharmacy

< Back to vaccinations and immunisations main page

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