Flu vaccination

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If you're eligible, you can book a flu vaccination appointment online or in the NHS App now.

The flu vaccine helps protect against flu, which can be a serious or life-threatening illness. It is safe and effective and offered through the NHS every year in autumn or early winter to help protect children and people at higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu.

Who should have the adult flu vaccine

The flu vaccine is recommended for people at higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu.

You can get the free NHS flu vaccine if you:

are aged 65 or over (including those who will be 65 by 31 March 2027)
are aged 18-64 and 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
are experiencing homelessness or staying in a homeless hostel or night shelter

Frontline health and social care workers can also get a flu vaccine through their employer.

How to get the adult flu vaccine

If you're eligible for an NHS flu vaccine you can:

book a flu vaccination appointment online or in the NHS App
find a pharmacy that offers free flu vaccination
contact your GP surgery to book an appointment

Some people may be able to get vaccinated through their maternity service or care home, or through their employer if they're a frontline health or social care worker.

The last date you will be able to get your flu vaccine is 31 March 2027, but it's best to get vaccinated as soon as you can to protect yourself during winter. Online booking will close on 30 March 2027.

Who should have the children's flu vaccine

The children's flu vaccine helps protect against flu. It's offered to children aged 2 to 3 years, school-aged children (Reception to Year 11) and children with certain long-term health conditions.

It's recommended for:

children aged 2 or 3 years
children aged 4 years who have not started school yet
school-aged children (Reception to Year 11)
children aged 6 months to 17 years with certain long-term health conditions

If your child is 17 years old and over, and does not have a long-term health condition, they are not eligible for the flu vaccine.

How to get the children's flu vaccine

There are different ways to get the children's flu vaccine.

Children aged 2 or 3 years

Children who are aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2026 (born between 1 September 2022 and 31 August 2023) can get the flu vaccine at:

their GP surgery (from 1 September 2026)
a pharmacy that offers NHS children's flu vaccination (from 1 October 2026)

You may get an invitation from your GP surgery but there's no need to wait for this. Contact your child's GP surgery from 1 September for an appointment.

You can book an NHS flu vaccination online or in the NHS App now. Vaccination appointments at pharmacies will take place from 1 October 2026.

Children aged 4 years who have not started school

If your child is 4 years old but has not started school yet, they can get vaccinated at either:

a community clinic – if they turned 4 years old on or before 31 August 2026
their GP surgery or a pharmacy that offers flu vaccination – if they turned 4 years old after 31 August 2026

School-aged children (Reception to Year 11)

Most school-aged children (Reception to Year 11) get their flu vaccine at school.

You should get an invitation from your child's school or the School Age Immunisation Service to get their vaccine, usually during the autumn term.

If your child misses their vaccination at school or if they are home educated (home-schooled), they should be offered a flu vaccine at a community clinic.

Children with certain long-term health conditions

Children with certain long-term health conditions that put them at higher risk from flu can get a flu vaccine from their:

school (if they're in Reception to Year 11)
GP surgery

If your child is in Reception to Year 11, they should get an invitation from their school or the School Age Immunisation Service to have the vaccine, usually during the autumn term.

If your child is not in school or you want to vaccinate your child earlier than when it's offered at school, contact their GP surgery in autumn or early winter to book an appointment.

Living Well Bus

The Living Well Service, delivered by Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, operates on a fully drop-in basis and provides routine immunisations (including flu), health checks and wider well being guidance at the heart of communities.

See the timetable on the Cheshire and Wirral Partnership website for upcoming Living Well clinics near you.