For most people, the flu vaccine is an annual vaccine. It typically lasts at least 6 months and is recommended at the start of each Winter season, to cover the times of year the flu is most prominent.

To be eligible for a flu vaccine, you must:

• Be over 3 years of age

• NOT have received a flu vaccine this Winter season (since September 2025)

• Have NEVER had an allergic or anaphylactic reaction to a flu vaccine, or any of the vaccine’s ingredients or excipients (including egg or chicken proteins).

• NOT be unwell at the time of vaccination

• NOT be immunocompromised

• Be able and willing to consent to a consultation, prescription, administration of the vaccine and the storing of your data.

You can read more about who can and can’t have the flu vaccine in the patient information leaflet.

The flu vaccine protects against the most common/prominent strains of flu (which change each year).

Getting the flu vaccine reduces the risk of you contracting the flu, and the risk of you passing it on to others. This means even if you yourself do not have health risks, getting the flu vaccine can help to protect those around you that do.

Yes. Vaccines are never 100% effective for everyone, but having a flu vaccine does reduce the chance of you catching the flu.

The more people are vaccinated, the lower the risk for both people who are vaccinated but for whom the vaccine is not effective; and for people who are not vaccinated.

Yes. You can still catch the flu or a number of other viral illnesses after you’ve had the vaccine.

You can reduce the risk of becoming ill by washing your hands regularly, covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and binning dirty and used tissues.

Many people are eligible for the flu vaccine through the NHS. We recommend you contact your GP or local health authority for more information. NHS Inform’s flu vaccine page can be found here. Eligibility and suitability is reviewed annually by the JCVI.

If you want the vaccine on the NHS, we unfortunately are unable to assist with this as we are a fully private pharmacy, so you will have to speak to your GP.

For each visit you need, you’ll have:

• A full consultation with the pharmacist, who will assess the suitability of the vaccine for you and be able to answer any questions you may have

• The vaccine prescribed by the pharmacist

• A patient-information leaflet from the manufacturers of the vaccine

• The vaccine administered by the pharmacist

The cost of the influenza vaccination service is £14.99 per person.