Flu vaccination

Flu vaccination is safe and effective. It's offered every year through the NHS to help protect children and people at risk of getting seriously ill from flu.

The best time to have your flu vaccine is in the autumn or early winter before flu starts spreading. But you can get your vaccine later.

Flu vaccination is important because:

• while flu is unpleasant for most people, it can be dangerous and even life-threatening for some people, particularly those with certain health conditions
• more people are likely to get flu this winter as fewer people will have built up natural immunity to it during the COVID-19 pandemic
• if you get flu and COVID-19 at the same time, research shows you're more likely to be seriously ill