Seasonal Flu Vaccination

Flu (also known as influenza) is a highly infectious illness caused by the flu virus. It spreads rapidly through small droplets coughed or sneezed into the air by an infected person.   For most people, flu is unpleasant but not serious. You will usually recover within a week.

Studies have shown that flu vaccines provide effective protection against the flu, although protection may not be complete and may vary between people. Protection from the vaccine gradually decreases and flu strains change over time. Therefore, new vaccines are made each year and people at risk of flu are encouraged to be vaccinated every year.

The flu vaccination is offered to people in at-risk groups. These people are at greater risk of developing serious complications if they catch flu, such as pregnant women and elderly people.

Eligibility

There are no changes to eligible cohorts for the 2026 to 2027 programme. The following cohorts, based on the advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), are announced and authorised to be eligible to receive a flu vaccination:

From 1 September 2026:

• pregnant women
• all children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2026
• primary school and secondary school-aged children (from reception to year 11)
  • (individuals 17 years and over attending a special education needs (SEN) school and who are in a clinical risk group may also be vaccinated alongside their peers)
• all children in clinical risk groups aged from 6 months to less than 18 years (as defined by the Green Book, Influenza Chapter)

From 1 October 2026:

• those aged 65 years and over
• those aged 18 years to under 65 years in clinical risk groups (as defined by the Green Book, Influenza Chapter)
• 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
• frontline workers in a social care setting without an employer-led occupational health scheme, including those working for a registered residential care or nursing home, registered domiciliary care providers, voluntary managed hospice providers and those that are employed by those who receive direct payments (personal budgets), or Personal Health budgets, such as personal assistants

All frontline health care workers, including both clinical and non-clinical staff who have contact with patients, should be offered flu vaccine from 1 October as a vital part of the organisation’s policy for the prevention of the transmission of flu. Employers should make the vaccine accessible for all frontline staff, encourage staff to get vaccinated, and monitor the delivery of their programmes. Further communications from NHS England will describe operational considerations.

Social care workers directly working with people clinically vulnerable to flu should also have the flu vaccine provided by their employer. There are circumstances where frontline staff, employed by specific social care providers without access to employer-led occupational health schemes (see frontline workers eligibility above), can access the vaccine through the NHS free of charge.

Providers are expected to deliver a 100% offer to eligible groups. They should ensure they make firm plans to enable delivery of more vaccinations in the 2026 to 2027 season than they did in the 2025 to 2026 season. Providers should also ensure they have robust plans in place to identify and address health inequalities for all underserved groups, and we would like to see progress on reducing unwarranted variation and improving uptake.

Primary care providers are asked to prioritise the vaccination of 2 and 3 year olds as soon as the vaccine is available as this will help reduce transmission and protect those most vulnerable. To help support improvements in access and uptake, as for last season, some school-age immunisation providers will plan to deliver vaccines in nursery settings attached to primary schools for 2 to 3 year olds or deliver to this cohort in catch-up community clinics when appropriate. Guidance regarding the provision of vaccinations for 2 to 3 year olds in community pharmacies will be issued following the evaluation of the 2025 to 2026 season. 

What are the changes

National guidance has recently clarified how consent for vaccinations must be obtained and recorded.
This is to ensure patients receive clear information and that consent is taken safely and consistently.

These changes do not affect:

• Patients right to choose whether or not to have a vaccine
• The safety of vaccines
• Who is eligible for vaccination

They do affect how consent is managed and who is responsible for different parts of the process.

How consent for vaccination works

Before any vaccination, patients must be given information about:

• What the vaccine is for
• The benefits of vaccination
• Possible side effects and risks
• The option to ask questions or decline

This is called informed consent.

You may receive this information:

• In a leaflet
• Via a link sent by text or email
• On our website
• Or through discussion with a GP, nurse, or pharmacist

Who is responsible for consent

Under national guidance:

• A registered healthcare professional (such as a GP, nurse, or pharmacist) is responsible for obtaining and recording informed consent.
• Healthcare Assistants (HCAs) are trained to administer vaccines, but they do not take informed consent.

This means:

• Informed consent is taken or confirmed by a registered clinician
• HCAs do not make the clinical decision about consent

What the Healthcare Assistant will do on the day

On the day of your vaccination, the Healthcare Assistant will:

• Check that informed consent has already been obtained
• Confirm that you are still happy to receive the vaccine
• Ask safety questions, such as about allergies, recent illness, or changes in your health
• Check for any new contraindications before giving the vaccine
• Involve a GP or nurse if there are any concerns or uncertainties

If you ask a question that needs a clinical decision, or if there is anything unclear, the HCA will pause the vaccination and involve a registered clinician before proceeding.

You can change your mind at any point, including at the appointment.

If you have had this vaccine before

If you have received the same vaccine in the past, this helps us understand that you may already be familiar with it.

However:

• Consent is still checked each time
• Information is updated regularly
• You will always be given the opportunity to ask questions or decline

Questions or concerns

Please contact the practice if you:

• Would like to speak to a GP, nurse, or pharmacist before your appointment
• Have a medical condition, allergy, or are unsure if the vaccine is suitable
• Need more information to help you decide

In summary

• You will always receive information before vaccination
• A registered clinician is responsible for informed consent
• The HCA will check consent, confirm safety, and involve a clinician if needed
• Your choice, understanding, and safety are our priority