What is the purpose of flu vaccine?

Flu vaccination can reduce the risk of flu-associated hospitalization. Flu vaccine prevents tens of thousands of hospitalizations each year. For example, during 2019-2020 flu vaccination prevented an estimated 100,000 flu-related hospitalizations.

What is flu jab good for?

The flu vaccine helps protect against flu, which can be a serious or life-threatening illness.

Should I be vaccinated for flu?

Everyone 6 months of age and older should get vaccinated before the start of each flu season, with very few exceptions. Some people are more likely to get health problems from the flu, such as the elderly, pregnant women, infants, and people with medical conditions like asthma or diabetes.

How long does a flu vaccine last?

Yes, the flu shot wears off in about six months. The flu shot does not provide long-lasting protection, which is another reason we need to get one every year. When should I get a flu shot? We typically suggest getting the flu shot in the early fall, before the virus starts circulating in the community.

When should you get a flu shot?

It’s best to be vaccinated before flu begins spreading in your community. September and October are generally good times to be vaccinated against flu. Ideally, everyone should be vaccinated by the end of October.

The UK government is launching a new RSV vaccination program in September 2024 to protect infants and older adults from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). RSV can cause serious illness, including bronchiolitis and pneumonia, especially in infants and people over 75. The vaccine can help reduce the risk of severe RSV disease in babies and protect older adults from complications. 

The program will include the following groups: 

• Pregnant women

The vaccine will be offered from 28 weeks of pregnancy, and ideally within a few weeks of the 28-week antenatal appointment. The vaccine can provide protection for the baby, even if they are born early. It can also reduce the risk of spreading infection to the newborn. 

• Adults turning 75

Anyone turning 75 on or after September 1^st 2024 will be offered a single dose of the vaccine. They can receive the vaccine up until the day before their 80th birthday. 

• Adults aged 75–79

As part of a catch-up program, people aged 75–79 on September 1, 2024 will also be offered the vaccine in the first year of the program.

The vaccine is not completely effective, and some babies may still get RSV even if their mother has been vaccinated. However, the infection should be less severe for most babies born to vaccinated mothers. 

Side effects from the vaccine are usually mild and may include: Redness or tenderness at the injection site, Irritation or swelling at the injection site, Muscle pain, and Headache. 

Before getting the vaccine, you should tell the person giving it to you if you have ever had a severe allergic reaction or are taking any medicines or treatments at a hospital or clinic. 

What the shingles vaccine is for

Shingles is a common condition that causes a painful rash. It can sometimes lead to serious problems such as long-lasting pain, hearing loss or blindness.

You’re more likely to get shingles, and it’s more likely to cause serious problems, as you get older or if you have a severely weakened immune system.

The shingles vaccine helps:

• reduce your chances of getting shingles.
• reduce your chances of getting serious problems if you do get shingles.

People who turn 65 on or after 1 September 2023

People aged 70 to 79

People aged 50 and over with a severely weakened immune system

You’ll be offered 2 doses of the vaccine. These are given between 6 and 12 months apart.

Important

You can get shingles more than once, so it’s important to get vaccinated even if you’ve had shingles before.

Your GP surgery will contact you when you become eligible for the shingles vaccine. This will usually be by letter, text message, phone or email.