Seasonal Flu Vaccination

About This Service

What to expect at your Appointment

Between September to March every year, we provide the NHS flu vaccination service. The best time to have it is in the autumn or early winter before flu starts spreading. The vaccine injects you with an inactivated form of the flu virus. Because it is ‘inactivated’, it cannot give you the flu. The vaccine stimulates your immune system to generate an initial immune response. This prepares your body and therefore provides you with better protection if you get exposed to the actual virus. It can take up to 14 days to work. You will be offered a different version of the vaccine if you are 65 yrs old and over. This is because this version contains an added ‘adjuvant’ which further stimulates the immune system to make a stronger response. The service aims to vaccinate anyone at risk of developing more serious complications from flu. Our pharmacies are extremely accessible, have extended opening times and provide options to walk in without an appointment. Therefore, our clinics are extremely well placed for those seeking vaccinations.

Benefits of this service

The vaccine protects those who are most vulnerable to developing serious complications from contracting flu. Although the vaccine gives you the best protection against flu, it is not 100% effective. However, if you do contract flu, it is significantly more likely to be milder and have a shorter duration. The vaccine will reduce the transmission of the virus to others who may be more vulnerable than yourself. This can even happen when you aren’t experiencing any symptoms whatsoever. It will also reduce your risk of getting severe illness if you were to contract COVID-19 at the same time. Getting a yearly jab keeps you protected against each year’s strain of flu.

What Our Team Do

After providing you with information about the vaccine such as what it does and potential side effects, you can consent to receive the vaccine. Typically, you will be injected in the deltoid muscle in your arm by the pharmacist. Our staff are competent and trained to provide these vaccines and tend to have great experience in this service.

Pricing and Eligibility

This service is free for those who;

· are 65 and over

· have serious long-term conditions:

· diabetes

· respiratory conditions, such as asthma (needing steroid inhaler or tablets), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including emphysema and bronchitis

· 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 hepatitis

· neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis

· frontline health or social care workers

· employed by a registered residential nursing or care home, registered homecare organisation or a hospice

· working in NHS primary care and have direct contact with patients (including locums, contractors and non-clinical staff)

· providing health or social care though direct payments and/or personal health budgets.

You can contact your pharmacy to find out whether you need to make an appointment and for any further questions on your eligibility.

Where can this Service be Located?

This service can be accessed at all of our pharmacies. Click the links below to navigate to your chosen branch;