Flu vaccine

The flu vaccine is a safe and effective vaccine. It's offered every year for free on the NHS to people at risk of getting seriously ill from flu.

This page is about our flu vaccine campaign for 2022/23.

 

Who can have the flu vaccine?

The flu vaccine is available free on the NHS to:

• adults aged 50 and over (including those who'll be 50 by 31 March 2023)
• those aged 6 months to under 65 years with long-term health conditions
• pregnant women
• those in long-stay residential care homes
• carers receiving a carer's allowance, or are the main carer for an older or disabled person who may be at risk if you get sick
• those who live with someone who is more likely to get infections (such as someone who has HIV, has had a transplant or is having certain treatments for cancer, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis)
• frontline staff in social care or a hospice without an employer-led occupational health flu vaccination scheme
• children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2022 (born between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2020)
• all primary school children (reception to year 6)
• all year 7 to year 11 children in secondary school

Find out more about who can have the flu vaccine on the NHS.UK website.

If you are not eligible for a free flu vaccine, you can book a private vaccine through a community pharmacy. Babylon GP at Hand does not offer private flu vaccines. 

 

When you can get the flu vaccine

This year's flu vaccination campaign in England will start as usual on 1 September, but each GP practice will receive their vaccines at different times, depending on national delivery schedules. This year GP at Hand’s vaccine delivery dates are later than in previous years.

If you are eligible and want to get your vaccine before it becomes available at GP at Hand you can book it through your local pharmacy. You can use the NHS service to find a pharmacy that offers the NHS flu vaccine.

If you are eligible and choose to have your vaccine at one of our London clinics, you’ll be invited inline with our delivery schedule: 

• If you have a 0-18 year old, you will be contacted from 5th September with appointments available from 12th September.
• If you are aged 18-64, you will be contacted from 3rd October with appointments available from 17th October.
• If you are over 65, you will be contacted from 19th September with appointments available from 3rd October.

Find out how to book your appointment.

 

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
• a hospital appointment

If you’re registered with us through GP at Hand, you can choose to get this at most of our clinic sites. Find out how to book your appointment.

Most school age children will be offered their flu vaccine at school. Find out more about the flu vaccine for children.

 

How to book your appointment

Booking at a pharmacy

You can use the NHS service to find a pharmacy that offers the NHS flu vaccine.

Some pharmacies allow you to book online, whilst others you may need to contact to arrange an appointment. The pharmacy will tell you how and when you can book your vaccination.

 

Booking at one of our clinics

If you are eligible for an NHS flu vaccine and registered with GP at Hand, we’ll send you a text message asking you if you want to have the vaccine with us. If you choose to have the vaccine with us, you’ll receive an appointment invite in your Babylon app. You can choose to get the vaccine at most of our clinic sites.

Please make sure your phone number is up to date on your account.

If we don’t have a suitable date or time for you at one of our clinics, you may find availability to get your vaccine at a local pharmacy. You can use the NHS service to find a pharmacy that offers the NHS flu vaccine.

 

Flu vaccine for children

Most school aged children will be offered the flu vaccination at school.

Home-schooled children should be invited for vaccination by the local healthcare team.

You’ll be invited to book your child’s flu vaccine with us if they are:

• aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2022 (born between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2020)
• aged 6 months to 17 years with long-term health conditions

Find out more about the Children's flu vaccine on the NHS.UK website.

 

Flu vaccine for frontline health care and social care workers

If you're a frontline health and social care worker, your employer should offer you a flu vaccine through their occupational health scheme. 

 

Flu vaccine for people with long-term health conditions

The NHS provides a list of long-term health conditions that are eligible for the flu vaccine on their website at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/flu-influenza-vaccine/.

If you have a long-term condition and are not in one of the groups listed on the NHS website, book an appointment with one of our prescribing pharmacists to discuss getting the flu vaccine. If they think you're at risk of serious problems if you get the flu they’ll send you an invitation to get your flu vaccine.

 

More information about the flu vaccine

Visit the NHS.UK Flu vaccine webpage.