Having a flu vaccine helps to protect against flu; a viral infection that affects the lungs. It can spread very easily from person to person. Usually, for most people, the flu gets better on its own. However, it can also make some people very seriously ill, and in some cases be life-threatening.

The flu vaccine is aimed to protect people from getting the flu and is offered every year by the NHS to those who are more vulnerable to getting seriously ill from the flu virus. 

Who is Considered High Risk for Flu Complications?

Those who are part of the high risk group are more susceptible to developing more serious and severe complications that are associated with the flu. So, it is important to protect them. The following list details the people who are eligible to get the flu vaccine from the NHS, including those who are:

  • Aged 65 years old or over 
  • Pregnant 
  • Have certain long term health conditions including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, heart conditions, diabetes, kidney or liver disease
  • Living in a care or nursing home 
  • The main carer for someone for example, an older person or someone who is disabled or has a weakened immune system
  • Frontline health and social care workers

If you recognise that you belong within one of these categories, it is important that you arrange your flu vaccination. They are offered every year on the NHS, in autumn or early winter (before the worst of the flu seasons). 

Benefits of the Flu Jab for Vulnerable Groups

Getting the flu vaccine has many benefits, not just for yourself but for the people around you as well.

The main role of the vaccine is to help you prevent getting the flu in the first place. Especially if you belong in the higher risk of severe flu complications group. The vaccine helps to prevent the illness from occurring, prevents hospitalisation and it has also been shown to reduce the severity of the illness even if you do fall sick from the flu. Also, by receiving the flu vaccine, the risk associated with the flu-related worsening of chronic conditions, especially lung disease, reduces.

It is important to note here that even if you have received the flu vaccine the year before, it is important that you keep up to date and get the vaccine every year. This is because the flu virus changes every year and the vaccine is updated to help protect against the current strain of flu.

In pregnancy, getting the flu vaccination will help protect both you and your baby. When you are pregnant, your immune system changes and so, the way your body responds to illnesses will also change. Because of this, pregnant women are more likely to develop a more serious form of the flu, particularly later on in pregnancy. 

This can also affect the baby as well which could possibly lead to premature delivery of your baby or even stillbirth. The flu vaccine has been proven to be completely safe in pregnancy and is recommended to be taken as soon as you know that you are pregnant.

How to Get a Free Flu Jab on the NHS

If you are part of one of the higher risk groups, then you are eligible to receive a free NHS flu vaccination. To get the vaccination, you can:

  • Contact your GP surgery to book a flu vaccine appointment 
  • Find a pharmacy that offer the NHS flu vaccine 
  • Get vaccinated from your maternity service if you are pregnant 
  • Receive a vaccine from your care home 

What to Expect After Vaccination 

After getting the flu vaccination, as with anything, people can feel different effects. 

However, the most common side effects are quite mild in severity. You might feel sore in the area where your injection was given, a slightly raised temperature and a bit achy all over your body. These side effects usually settle after 1 or 2 days.

If you feel as though you are continuing to experience these side effects or you feel severely unwell after your vaccination, get into contact with a healthcare professional. 

Additional Flu Prevention Tips

Getting the vaccine is not the only way to help prevent you from getting the flu virus. Although the vaccine has been shown to be the most effective, there are other things you can do, alongside the vaccine, to help lower your risk:

  • Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. This can help to reduce the spread of the flu through direct contact.
  • Avoid touching your face, particularly your eyes, nose and mouth.
  • Coughing and sneezing into your elbow. Again, this will help to reduce the spread of germs to those around you.
  • Avoid crowds and other people who might be sick. It is important to reduce your contact with other people especially if you are ill yourself. This will help reduce the spread of the flu and help to protect other vulnerable people.

References

NHS (2024). Flu Vaccine. [online] nhs.uk. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/flu-vaccine/.

NHS (2021). Common cold. [online] NHS. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/common-cold/.

NHS (2022). Flu. [online] NHS. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/flu/.