Flu vaccine
Flu occurs every year, usually in the winter. Sometimes flu can lead to serious illnesses or make existing conditions worse. The best way to protect yourself is to get the free seasonal flu vaccine if your GP offers you the vaccine.
Flu vaccine and COVID-19
Flu vaccination is important because:
- 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
- getting vaccinated against flu and COVID-19 will provide protection for you and those around you for both these serious illnesses
COVID-19 Autumn booster vaccine
Some people may be eligible for both the flu and the COVID-19 Autumn booster vaccines. If you're offered both vaccines, it's safe to have them at the same time.
More information about the COVID-19 booster vaccine and who can get it is available at this link:
People who should get the vaccine
Some people are at greater risk from the effects of flu and should get the vaccine when offered it. There’s an increased risk if you:
- are pregnant
- are aged 50 or over, even if you feel fit and healthy
- live in a residential or nursing home
- have an illness or underlying health condition (including children from six months of age)
The annual flu vaccination programme also includes:
- pre-school children aged two years and over
- children at primary school and secondary school (up to Year 12)
- carers – if you care for another person, you should ask your GP if you should be vaccinated so you can continue caring for them
- frontline health and social care (HSC) workers (as defined in the Green Book chapter 14a)
- staff in independent care homes, hospices and domiciliary care providers
- close contacts of immunocompromised individuals
People with illnesses or health conditions
Children over six months old and adults should get the vaccine if they have:
- a chronic chest condition such as asthma
- a chronic heart condition
- chronic liver disease
- chronic kidney disease
- diabetes
- lowered immunity due to disease or treatment such as steroids or cancer therapy
- a chronic neurological condition such as stroke, multiple sclerosis or a condition that affects the nervous system such as cerebral palsy
- a very high body weight (BMI greater than 40)
- any other serious medical condition, ask your doctor if you're unsure
Flu vaccine for children
The annual flu vaccination programme includes:
- all pre-school children aged two years and over (offered in GP)
- all children at primary school (offered in schools)
- all children in Years 8 to 12 in secondary school (offered in schools)
- children aged six months to two years with underlying health conditions (offered in GP surgeries)
- children aged 16 and 17 years with underlying health conditions (offered in GP surgeries)
Children should also get the flu vaccine if:
- they were previously in hospital with a chest infection
- they go to a school for children with severe learning difficulty
Health and social care workers
Frontline health and social care workers should get the vaccine.
Those eligible for free flu vaccination include clinical and non-clinical staff who have contact with patients. This includes:
- staff involved in direct patient care
- non-clinical staff in secondary or primary care or community healthcare settings
- laboratory and pathology staff
- frontline social care workers
You can get the vaccine:
- from your employer (if your employer offers this service
- at a participating community pharmacy
- from your local Trust
Protection against common flu strains
Each year the flu vaccine protects against the three most common strains of flu. You are more at risk from flu complications if you fall into any of the categories listed above. In the worst cases, flu can result in a stay in hospital or even death.
You should get the vaccine even if you got it last year and you feel fit and healthy now.
By getting the vaccine you are protecting yourself and others, who may be more vulnerable than you. You are also helping to protect the healthcare system at a time when it is under strain due to the coronavirus pandemic.
How the flu vaccine works
The flu vaccine cannot give you flu nor will it make you more vulnerable to COVID-19. The vaccine is made from small parts of the flu virus.
Seven to 14 days after you get the vaccine, your body makes antibodies to the vaccine viruses. These antibodies help protect you against flu.
Flu vaccine and allergic reactions
If you had an anaphylactic reaction to a previous flu vaccine, you may not be able to get the flu vaccine. The healthcare worker giving the flu vaccines will be able to tell you if this is the case.
If you have any other allergies, for example, egg or latex there may be only certain types of flu vaccines that you can get and you should discuss any allergies that you have with your GP or nurse administering the flu vaccine.
Flu vaccine in pregnancy
Flu infection during pregnancy can be very harmful to mother and baby. Serious complications include:
- pneumonia
- heart problems
- lung problems
The flu vaccine is safe for pregnant women and their babies. If you're pregnant, you should get the vaccine to protect you and your baby from flu, regardless of your stage of pregnancy.
You can get the vaccine:
- from your GP or midwife
- at a participating community pharmacy
- from your local Trust
Administering the flu vaccine during the COVID-19 pandemic
It is more important than ever to get the vaccine this year as research shows that for some people contracting COVID-19 and flu virus increases the risk of complications, which could be fatal.
Robust infection control procedures and social distancing will be in place in all settings where the flu vaccination is administered.
You can also reduce your risk or catching coronavirus by following the latest public health advice when you are out getting your vaccination:
Do not go to your vaccination appointment if you are displaying symptoms of COVID-19 or if you are in self-isolation having been identified as a close contact of a positive COVID-19. You should rearrange your appointment.
Where to get the flu vaccine
When and where you get your vaccine will depend on which group you belong to:
- residents and staff in care homes will be offered their flu vaccine by a local community pharmacy
- risk groups (except those in primary and secondary schools) will be invited to get the vaccine by their GP or can get it from their local Trust
- pre-school children will be offered the vaccine by their GP
- all children in primary and secondary school, including children in risk groups, will get the vaccine in school if their parents sign and return the consent form
- pregnant women should contact their GP or midwife to get the vaccine or can get the vaccine from a participating community pharmacy or their local Trust
- household contacts of those of who are immuno-compromised should contact their GP to get the vaccine or from their local Trust
- carers should contact their GP or can get the vaccine from a participating community pharmacy or their local Trust
- frontline health and social care workers should get the vaccine through their employer (if employer offers the service) or from a participating community pharmacy or from your local Trust
- those over the age of 50 will be invited to get the vaccine by their GP or can get the vaccine from a participating community pharmacy or their local Trust
HSC Trusts
Trusts will be offering vaccinations to to all those who fall under the eligible categories above.
Further information on these locations is available on the Trust websites.
- Belfast Health and Social Care Trust
- Northern Health and Social Care Trust
- South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust
- Southern Health and Social Care Trust
- Western Health and Social Care Trust
You can find out which HSC Trust clinics and community pharmacies are offering vaccinations near you by putting in your post code at the following link: