Ahead of the flu season, we’ve put together this simple FAQ to clear up common myths and give you the facts you need. The flu vaccine is your best protection for you, and for the people around you.
Do please wait to be invited. There is no need to contact the surgery as we will be in touch to book your appointments.
Our vaccination clinics
All four clinics will take place on Saturdays with two at School Lane for Flu vaccine only and two at the HLC, working with Grove Surgery for the combined Flu and covid vaccine clinic.
- 3rd October at School Lane – FLU ONLY
- 10th October at HLC – Flu and Covid
- 17th October at School Lane – FLU ONLY
- 24th October at HLC – Flu and Covid
Who is eligible for a flu vaccination?
The flu vaccination programme begins from 1st September 2026 for pregnant women and eligible children, and from 1st October 2026 for most eligible adults.
- Aged 65 years and over, including those who will turn 65 by 31st March 2027
- Aged 18 to 64 years with certain long-term health conditions or who are in a clinical risk group
- Pregnant women
- Children aged 2 or 3 years on 31st August 2026
- Children aged 6 months to under 18 years who are in a clinical risk group
- School-aged children from Reception to Year 11, who will usually be vaccinated through the school programme
- Living in long-stay residential care homes
- Receiving Carer’s Allowance, or who are the main carer for an older or disabled person
- Homeless or living in a night shelter or homeless hostel
- Close contacts of people who are immunocompromised
- Frontline Heath and social care workers who do not have access to an employer-led occupational health vaccination scheme
Who is eligible for a covid vaccination?
Covid eligibility is more limited than flu. Only the following groups are eligible:
- Aged 75 years and over
- Residents in a care home for older adults
- Aged 6 months and over who are immunosuppressed, as defined in national guidance
If you are eligible for both vaccinations, you may be offered flu and Covid at the same appointment at the Healthy Living Centre. If you are eligible for flu but not Covid, you will be invited for flu only.
Who should have a flu vaccine?
Flu vaccination is recommended for those who are most at risk of serious complications if they get flu. For adults this includes everyone aged 65 years and over, pregnant women, and those with certain long-term health conditions. Flu can be a serious illness in these people and the vaccine offers the best protection. Last year estimates of deaths from flu were over 7,000, so flu kills!
What is in the flu vaccine?
The vaccine changes every year to match what is predicted to be the most common strains of flu. This is done by reviewing the data form the other side of the world during our spring and summer (Australia’s Autumn and Winter). The vaccine contains the most common strains and this year there are three that are included. These vaccines are known as ‘trivalent,’ which is a fancy medical term to say it has three strains in.
Flus is not that serious though!
No, it kills people! Whilst in most of the cases, flu is self limiting and usually patients feel better after 7-10 days, for some it is a very serious condition.
Last year it is estimated that just over 3,700 people died where flu was attributable. For a flu season that is, a low number. Compare that to 2014/15 when the estimated figure was nearly 36,000. As you can see, it kills.
There is also the wider impact on the NHS. Modelling from last year estimates that around 100,000 hospital admissions were avoided by the flu vaccine.
Doesn’t the flu vaccine give you flu?… If you are injecting me with three strains?
No. That is a common misconception, but completely understandable. The virus is effective ‘dead.’ It is killed off, or ‘inactivated’ (another fancy medical term) so it cannot give you flu or replicate. What the vaccine does, is allow your body to identify what the virus looks like & to start to create a response if you were to become infected.
Now, after the vaccine, you may feel a little run down, muscle ache, slight fever, but this is just the body starting to develop an immune response and the tools to beat the virus. This is different from having flu.
Isn’t the children’s vaccine is a live virus though?
Yes. Unlike the injections the nasal spray does contain a live virus because it’s designed to work a bit differently from the adult flu jab and that “live” part is not as scary as it sounds. For most children, they will have the flu vaccine in the form of a nasal spray. This is called the LAIV vaccine (Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine) but the virus is weakened or ‘attenuated’ (fancy medical term alert!) to such a point that it cannot cause flu in healthy people. The spray mimics a natural infection in the nasal and upper airway, where the flu virus usually starts. This then kick starts the immune system to develop a response. The weakened viruses can’t cause flu in healthy children, but they may cause mild symptoms like a runny nose or mild fever for a day or two.
Will I be fully protected if I have the vaccine?
No (but…. & it’s big BUT). No vaccine is 100% effective. The reason being that viruses adapt and mutate. During a flu season it is common for different strains of flu to change. This is known as ‘Antigenic Drift’ (fancy medical term alert!). Flu is an expert at adapting and that is why each year you need another flu vaccine.
Each year, during spring/summer, the UK looks at the dominant strains that are circulating in the Southern Hemisphere and use that as a basis for the vaccine for our season. The hope being that we can have a good match to any potential strains and ensure the vaccine is as effective as possible.
Here comes the big but….
BUT…whilst no vaccine is 100% effective, this is the best way to protect yourself from catching flu. It does take around 14 days from after you have been vaccinated for the body to fully develop a response to the flu. If you are unlucky enough to catch flu after you have had the vaccine, then usually the symptoms are less severe, and you tend to recover much quicker
By getting a flu vaccination you will be not only be helping protect yourself but also those around you, including your family, friends and other people who may not be able to have the vaccine due medical reasons.
I have had flu before, so I don’t need the vaccine!
Sorry, but having it before, does not mean you will not get it again. The virus changes and adapts, so that is why each year we offer the vaccine to eligible patients. There is no such thing as natural immunity to the flu virus.
I am allergic to eggs and cannot have the flu vaccine. Is that true?
For many years, most flu vaccines have been prepared from flu viruses that are grown in hens’ eggs and the final vaccine product contained varying amounts of egg protein (known as ovalbumin). That is not so much the case anymore as most are now grown in cells rather than eggs.
For the 2026/27 season, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised that egg allergy is no longer a contraindication to any flu vaccine used in the UK.
Evidence from multiple studies shows that people with egg allergy can safely receive inactivated flu vaccines, including those that contain traces of egg protein. There is no evidence of an increased risk of reaction in people with egg allergy, including those with a history of severe egg allergy.
The children’s nasal spray contains only a very small amount of ovalbumin and has also been shown to be safe for children with egg allergy.
If you are unsure, then do please contact the surgery and a GP will review and let you know what vaccine you will have. We can offer a non-egg-based vaccine if needed.
I heard that the vaccines contain pork products?
It is only the child’s nasal spray that contains a highly purified form of gelatine from pigs. It is used as a stabiliser that protects the live (weaken remember) virus from the effects of temperature when being stored. Gelatine is commonly used across a range of other medicines and is safe to use.
Patients of those religions, which have dietary restrictions, are therefore naturally worried about this component in the vaccine. That is of course understandable and not a problem at all. We will have plenty of the injectable vaccines that we can offer than do not contain any pork products at all for you to have.
When should pregnant women get vaccinated?
Pregnant women should have the vaccine from September. This is because the protection from the vaccine is passed through the placenta to the baby, giving the baby protection for the first few months of life when they are particularly at risk from flu. Therefore, pregnant women shouldn’t delay vaccination, especially those who are heavily pregnant, as babies born during the flu season need to be protected against flu as well Mum.
If you have any concerns then speak to us or your midwife.
When should children get vaccinated?
Vaccination for children who are offered a flu vaccine on the NHS will also start from September because their protection from the vaccine doesn’t decrease as quickly as it does in adults.
For school aged children (Reception to School Year 11) this will be undertaken in dedicated clinics at school rather than at the surgery.
Please note that for most children, this will be a nasal vaccine and not an injection. A few children may require the injection and if you are unsure, then please contact us.
Why do I have to wait until October for my flu vaccine?
Like last year, most eligible adults will be offered a flu vaccine from early October, which might be slightly later than in previous years. This is because the latest scientific evidence shows that protection from the flu vaccine decreases over time in adults. As we get older, our immune response weakens. This is known as ‘immunosenescence’ (wow… super fancy medical word alert!).
It is better to have the vaccine closer to when flu typically circulates in the community. This being mid-November through to end January. By having the vaccine later, it means that your body is better prepared.
Are there any other exceptions?
Yes. For example, people starting chemotherapy may be vaccinated earlier & this will be decided with your GP or specialist. Contact your Consultant/Us we can decide whether it is appropriate.
When do I need to get my vaccination?
Flu typically starts to circulate in mid-November, so it’s best that you get the vaccine by the end of November as it takes up to 14 days to work. But even if it’s later than November, it is still worth having.
I’m think I have caught flu; will the vaccine help?
Sorry. It’s too late. The aim of the vaccine is to help the body recognise the virus and then start to build up a response to it. If you think that you have flu already, the vaccine will not be doing anything to help. Your body has already lost the initial battle so now you will need to have plenty of rest, drink lots of fluid and let your body fight the virus.
What should I do now?
We will be contacting eligible patients to offer them the flu vaccine. We will send SMS with booking link to pick a time that suits you. Or we will be calling and inviting you to book an appointment. There is no need to contact us, well contact you!
If you are pregnant, you can also ask your midwife.
What else do I need to do to help stop flu spreading?
After the vaccine the best way to help prevent flu, is handwashing. Simple and highly effective. There are multiple studies that show we touch our faces subconsciously anywhere from 16 to 23 times per hour. Simple handwashing with warm water and soap/ liquid hand wash you can drastically reduce your risk of not only getting flu but other illnesses too.
- Wash hands
- Use of hand sanitiser, if there is nowhere to wash your hands, can help if you are out and about.
- Use disposable tissues and bin them immediately.
- Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow.
- Keep surfaces clean.
- Stay home if you’re unwell.
So, there you are. We hope that has answered some common questions about the flu virus and the benefits of the vaccine ready for the 2026-27 season.
As always, if you are not sure or want to discuss anything further, then we are here for you. Call us or use the online form to drop us a question and will we be more than happy to help.