Pandemic Flu Vaccine
The flu vaccine is a safe and effective vaccine. It's offered every year on the NHS to help protect people at risk of flu and its complications. Staff at the RNOH recognise it's a crucial tool to protect patients - and colleagues. This is even more important now with the added risk of Covid-19.
Flu vaccination is important because:
- if you're at higher risk from coronavirus, you're also more at risk of problems from flu
- if you get flu and coronavirus at the same time, research shows you're more likely to be seriously ill
- it'll help to reduce pressure on the NHS and social care staff who may be dealing with coronavirus
- If you've had COVID-19, it's safe to have the flu vaccine. It'll be effective at helping to prevent flu.
Who can have the flu vaccine?
The flu vaccine is given to people who:
- are 65 and over
- have certain health conditions
- are pregnant - are in a long-stay residential care
- receive a carer's allowance, or are the main carer for an older or disabled person who may be at risk if you get sick
- live with someone who's at high risk from coronavirus (on the NHS shielded patient list)
- frontline health or social care workers
Where to get the flu vaccine?
You can have the NHS flu vaccine at:
- your GP surgery
- a pharmacy offering the service
- your midwifery service if you're pregnant
- you have your flu vaccine at a pharmacy, you do not have to tell the GP. The pharmacist should tell them.
We will be offering the flu vaccination at RNOH very soon to all our eligible patients in our Outpatient Clinics.
All adult flu vaccines are given by injection into the muscle of the upper arm.
Most adults can have the flu vaccine, but you should avoid it if you have had a serious allergic reaction to a flu vaccine in the past.
You may be at risk of an allergic reaction to the flu vaccine injection if you have an egg allergy. This is because some flu vaccines are made using eggs. Ask a GP or pharmacist for a low-egg or egg-free vaccine.
If you're ill with a high temperature, it's best to wait until you're better before having the flu vaccine.
More information about flu vaccination
North Central London Commissioning Group Website
The flu vaccination – who should have it and why’ leaflet
The flu vaccination – who should have it and why’ leaflet