Flu guidance and support
Influenza (Flu) is a highly contagious viral infection that can cause serious illness and death. It can be more serious for younger children and older people.
Flu vaccination
For the most up to date guidance on the flu vaccination, including who can get it, safety, and side effects, visit the NHS website.
The flu vaccination is offered on the NHS every year in autumn or early winter to people at higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu.
You can have the flu vaccine at the same time as other vaccines such as the COVID-19 and shingles vaccines, if you are eligible.
Who can get a free flu vaccination
- Adults ages 65 and over (including those who will be 65 by 31 March 2025)
- Care home residents
- Pregnant women
- Children aged 2-3 and school aged children from reception to year 11
- Individuals aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group - this includes conditions such as asthma, COPD and diabetes
- Main carer for an older or disabled person, or receive a carer’s allowance
- Live with someone who has a weakened immune system
Frontline NHS and social care workers including those working in care homes or providing domiciliary care, arranged through your employer.
How to get your vaccination
COVID-19 and Flu vaccinations can be accessed via GP practices and community pharmacies. There are 22 pharmacies in Bexley offering COVID & flu vaccination. You can have the winter COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as the flu vaccine.
Booking for COVID-19 and flu vaccinations can be made via the National Booking System. You can also call 119 for free to book an appointment.
Pharmacies walk-in vaccination services
Vaccination for school-age children
Flu can be very unpleasant for children and can sometimes cause serious problems, such as pneumonia. Each winter in the UK, thousands of children who do not have a health condition need hospital care because of flu.
Children can catch and spread flu easily. Vaccinating them also helps protect others who are at higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu, such as babies, anyone who's pregnant and older people.
All children from reception to year 11 will be offered the flu vaccination through a nasal spray. It is painless, very quick to administer, and serious side effects are uncommon. The nasal flu vaccination contains a small amount of gelatine from pigs (porcine gelatine). The flu vaccine injection is available, which does not contain gelatine.
Flu vaccination for children (both the nasal spray and the injection) are arranged through your child’s school.
Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust provide school age immunisation across south London, including in Bexley. They also run catch-up clinics for children who miss the opportunity to be vaccinated at school.