Do you or a member of your household normally receive a flu vaccination each winter?
It is best to have the flu vaccination in the autumn before any outbreaks of flu. Remember that you need it every year, so don’t assume you are protected because you had one last year.
If so, the way the vaccination is provided will be different this year due to Covid-19. For more information please call your Practice or visit their website.
Summary of those who are recommended to have the flu vaccine:
- all children aged two to eleven (but not twelve years or older) on 31 August 2020
- people aged 65 years or over
- those aged from six months to less than 65 years of age, in a clinical risk group
- all pregnant women
- household contacts of those on the NHS Shielded Patient List or of immunocompromised individuals, specifically individuals who expect to share living accommodation with a shielded patient on most days over the winter and therefore for whom continuing close contact is unavoidable
- people living in long–stay residential homes or other long-stay care facilities
- those who are in receipt of a carer’s allowance, or who are the main carer of an older or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the carer falls ill
- health and social care staff, employed by a registered residential care/nursing home or registered domiciliary care provider, who are directly involved in the care of vulnerable patients/clients who are at increased risk from exposure to influenza
- health and care staff, employed by a voluntary managed hospice provider, who are directly involved in the care of vulnerable patients who are at increased risk from exposure to influenza
- health and social care workers employed through Direct Payments (personal budgets) and/or Personal Health Budgets, such as Personal Assistants, to deliver domiciliary care to patients and service users
- all frontline health and social care workers
Additionally, in 2020/21, flu vaccinations might be offered under the NHS flu vaccination programme to the following groups:
- individuals between 50-64 years, following prioritisation of other eligible groups and subject to vaccine supply
For advice and information about the flu vaccination, speak to your GP, practice nurse or pharmacist.
It is best to have the flu vaccination in the autumn before any outbreaks of flu. Remember that you need it every year, so don’t assume you are protected because you had one last year.
