To give you the best protection against the flu, the NHS has changed the start of this years flu programme. Most patients will now be given the flu vaccines later into the season

From 1^st September 2024:

• Pregnant women
• All children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2024
• Children in clinical risk groups aged from 6 months to less than 18 years

From 3^rd October 2024:

• Aged 65 years and over
• Aged 18 years to under 65 years in clinical risk groups
•  In long-stay residential care homes
• Carers in receipt of carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person
• close contacts of immunocompromised individuals

Flu can be unpleasant, but if you’re otherwise healthy, it’ll usually clear up on its own in about a week.

This year the flu vaccine is being offered on the NHS to:

• adults aged 65 and over (including those who will be 65 by 31 March 2025)
• people with certain medical conditions (including children in at-risk groups from 6 months of age. See list below)
• pregnant women
• close contacts of immunocompromised individuals
• children aged 2 and 3
• are the main carer for someone

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

Anyone in these risk groups is more likely to develop potentially serious complications of flu, such as pneumonia (a lung infection), so it’s recommended that they have a flu vaccine every year to help protect them.

If you, or a dependent of yours, is aged six months or older and falls in one of the groups above (or you have received a flu vaccination invitation letter you will be eligible for the flu vaccination). The vaccine offers you the best possible protection against the main flu strains in circulation this winter.

For more information please visit: www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/flu-influenza-vaccine/

Vaccine FAQs

Visit https://www.nwlondonicb.nhs.uk/Winter/flu for more information and flu myth busters

It is important that you have the right information when making any descision about taking a new medicine or vaccination. False information can lead to some not being able to make an informed choice.