Flu vaccinations are now available for pregnant women and children aged 2 to 3 years, school-aged children and children with certain long-term health conditions.

Flu is a highly infectious disease which can cause symptoms much worse than a heavy cold, however, the flu vaccine provides the best protection against flu, helping people to Stay Well this Winter.

If you are pregnant, you should have your flu vaccine to protect yourself and your baby. This is because pregnancy alters how your body handles infections such as flu.

Getting the flu while pregnant can increase the chances of pregnant women and their babies needing intensive care. The flu vaccine provides protection for pregnant women and their babies, reducing the risk of severe complications and providing additional protection for newborn babies.

The flu vaccine is available at any stage of pregnancy, and is given for free from your GP, and may also be available from your pharmacy or midwife.

If you have a child who is aged 2 to 3 years old, in primary or secondary school, or is aged from 6 months to less than 18 years and is in a clinical risk group, they will also be eligible for their flu vaccine.

The child flu vaccine is usually given as a spray in each nostril and is a very quick and painless procedure. The vaccine will help protect your child from flu and help to reduce the spread of flu to other children and family members such as parents and grandparents.

Getting your child vaccinated can also help you avoid the need to take time off work because of flu or to look after your children with flu.

Most school-aged children will receive their flu vaccinations at school, but younger children and those who miss their school or nursery session can also get the vaccine at their GP practice or at a community clinic.

Dr Vinay Takwale, NHS England’s Regional Medical Director for the South West, said: “Ensuring you get your flu vaccine is one of the most important things you can do to keep yourself and others safe this winter.  “If you are pregnant we recommend that you get your flu vaccine as soon as you can to ensure you and your baby are protected before the height of winter. For parents of eligible children, we urge you to please book them in for their vaccine appointment early to protect your children and those around them by helping to minimise outbreaks at school and within families.”

The flu vaccine is estimated to have prevented around 100,000 people from being hospitalised in England last winter by helping protect those at risk from getting seriously ill, particularly during the colder months when people gather indoors and viruses spread.

Despite this, there were more than 300,000 hospital bed days taken up by patients with flu last winter – almost double the previous winter (175,062 in 2023-24) and close to 50% higher than the year before (216,120 in 2022-23) – adding pressure to NHS services during the busy period.

Elizabeth Smout, Lead Consultant in Health Protection with UKHSA South West, said: “Flu should not be underestimated. It can be more than just an unpleasant illness – for some an infection is life-threatening, including kids who are normally very active and healthy. However, the flu vaccine is effective in providing protection. Estimates show the vaccination protected as many as 120,200 people from being hospitalised with flu last year, but for many thousands of unvaccinated vulnerable children and adults who ended up seriously ill in hospital, this could have been prevented.

“We recommend that all pregnant women should have a flu vaccine to protect themselves and their babies, as pregnancy alters how the body handles infections such as flu. The flu vaccine provides the best protection for both pregnant women and their baby. It reduces the risk of severe complications, intensive care needs, stillbirth, prematurity, and provides additional protection to the baby in the first few months of life. On top of helping to keep your child healthy, the flu vaccine also helps stop the spread of flu in the community – helping to protect those who are more vulnerable and the elderly such as grandparents.”

From 1 October, the flu vaccination offer will be extending to include those aged 65 years and over, those aged 18 to under 65 years in a clinical risk group, frontline health care workers, residents in long-stay care homes, those who are in close contact to immunocompromised individuals and carers.

The NHS is sending out millions of invitations this month to remind eligible people to come forward as soon as they can, but you do not need to wait for an invitation to book. If you are eligible, you can book quickly and easily on the NHS website, NHS App or by calling 119.

COVID-19 vaccinations will also be available to adults aged 75 and over, older adult care home residents, and people who are immunosuppressed. For adults eligible for both vaccines the NHS will make flu and COVID-19 jabs available at the same time, providing protection from both viruses in one visit.

Booking is now open for flu and COVID-19 vaccination appointments from 1 October 2025. The national booking service will remain open for COVID-19 appointments until 31 January 2026 and for flu appointments until 31 March 2026.