Flu spreads more easily in winter when we spend more time together indoors, it can cause serious illness. It is important to get protected, even if you have had a vaccine or been ill with flu before, as immunity fades over time and these viruses change each year.
If you are vaccinated and catch flu this winter, you are likely to have milder symptoms and recover faster, cutting your risk of being hospitalised.
Most eligible people can get the flu vaccine from Wednesday 1 October 2025 but appointments can be made now on the NHS website or in the NHS app.
People who are eligible for a flu vaccine include:
people with certain long term health conditions, from 6 months to under 65s
people aged 65 and over
pregnant women
all children aged 2 or 3 years old on 31 August 2025
primary school aged children (from Reception to year 6)
secondary school aged children (from year 7 to Year 11)
care home residents
carers in receipt of carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person
