Flu Vaccinations
Who is eligible for the flu vaccination?
Groups eligible for influenza vaccinations are based on the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The programme aims to provide direct protection to those who are at higher risk of influenza associated morbidity and mortality and to reduce transmission to all age groups through the vaccination of children.
You will usually be administered the vaccine recommended by the JCVI.
- Those aged 65 years and over.
- Those aged 6 months to under 65 years in clinical risk groups, such as the below groups:
– respiratory conditions, such as asthma (needing a steroid inhaler or tablets), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including emphysema and bronchitis.
diabetes
– heart conditions, such as coronary heart disease or heart failure
being very overweight – a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or above
– chronic kidney disease
– liver disease, such as hepatitis
– some neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), or cerebral palsy
– a learning disability
– problems with your spleen like sickle cell disease, or if you’ve had your spleen removed
– a weakened immune system as a result of conditions such as HIV and AIDS, or taking medicines such as steroid tablets or chemotherapy
– Pregnant women.
– All children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2023.
– All primary school-aged children and all secondary school-aged children up to Year 11 (though this will usually be arranged by the child’s school).
– Those in long stay residential care homes.
– Carers in receipt of carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person.
– Close contacts of immunocompromised individuals. - All frontline health care workers, including both clinical and non-clinical staff who have contact with patients, should be offered the influenza vaccine to protect themselves and those they care for.
- Social care workers who are in direct contact with people who receive care and support services should also have the influenza vaccine provided by their employer. This should be provided by their employer as part of the organisation’s policy to prevent the transmission of infection.
Cohorts that were eligible in the 2022 to 2023 season but that are not included in the cohorts for 2023 to 2024 are:
Those aged 50 to 64 years that are not in an ‘at risk’ category.
