Flu

 Flu symptoms can come on very quickly. Common symptoms include:

• a sudden high temperature (fever)
• tiredness and weakness
• a headache
• an aching body
• a dry cough
• a sore throat
• difficulty sleeping
• loss of appetite
• diarrhoea or tummy pain
• feeling and being sick

Having the flu vaccine will reduce your risk of serious illness. Once vaccinated, you’re more likely to have milder symptoms and recover quicker if you do catch the virus.

School-aged children will be offered the flu vaccine at school. The child’s parent/carer will need to sign a consent form beforehand. More information on school vaccinations and their consent forms can be found here.

Adults who are offered the vaccine will be able to book their flu vaccinations through their GP practice or local pharmacy. People may be invited by the NHS to get their free winter vaccines through the NHS App, text, email or letter.

For most people, it is fine to have the flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time. Where possible, it is encouraged to get both vaccines in the same appointment for protection against both viruses in just a few minutes. If this is not possible, you should get your vaccines as close together as possible.

To get your vaccines at your GP or pharmacy, please visit their website or contact them to find out when they’re running clinics and how to book. You can also find a list of pharmacies offering the flu vaccine here.

Most children will be offered the nasal spray flu vaccine. This type of vaccine is a spray that is sprayed up each nostril. It is painless, quick and side effects are uncommon and generally mild. 

The spray contains a very small amount of highly processed porcine (pork) gelatine to stabilise the vaccine virus. Many faith groups accept the use of porcine gelatine in medical products. However, if you want your child to have a flu vaccine which does not contain porcine gelatine, you can ask the GP or vaccine provider for the injection instead. The injection does not contain porcine.

Vaccination UK has created a short video to explain the flu nasal spray and how it is given in schools.

• English
• Bengali
• Polish
• Punjabi
• Romanian
• Spanish
• Turkish

The table below explains where children will get their flu nasal spray vaccine, depending on their age

If your child is not registered with a GP, you can register them here. Everyone living in Newham can register with a local GP for free.

If your child is in school, they will be vaccinated in schools – make sure that you sign their consent form. If you miss the vaccination session at school, you can book a vaccine at your GP, local pharmacy, or a community clinic.

You can complete the consent form for school vaccination online here

It is safe for your child(ren) to have the flu vaccine, even if they have previously had flu or COVID-19, or have other medical conditions.

People aged 65 years and older can get a free flu vaccine from their GP or pharmacy. This is important because flu can cause serious complications for people aged 65 years and over.

People aged 65 years and over are more likely to experience serious complications from flu. The free flu vaccine is the very best protection for you from the harms of flu. 

As well as having your flu vaccine, you may be eligible for the pneumococcal and shingles vaccines.

The flu vaccine can be given at the same time as the COVID-19 vaccine. Flu, pneumococcal and shingles vaccines can be given at the same time, if you would like. It is advised to give the RSV and flu vaccines at different appointments. 

For more information:

• Find a local pharmacy offering the flu vaccine.
• Register with a GP

When you are pregnant, you’re at higher risk of serious complications, such as bronchitis and pneumonia, if you catch flu.

Flu can cause harm for those that are pregnant and their unborn babies. For example, it could cause your baby to be born prematurely or have a low birth weight. Catching flu while pregnant can also increase the need for admission to intensive care for mum and baby and may even lead to stillbirth or death.

Getting vaccinated is the safest and most effective way for pregnant people to protect themselves and their baby against the flu virus. However, fit and healthy you might feel, if you are pregnant you need the flu vaccine as early in the flu season (autumn/winter) as possible. This will make sure that you are less likely to experience complications if you catch the virus.

Flu can cause harm for those that are pregnant and their unborn babies. For example, it could cause your baby to be born prematurely or have a low birth weight. Catching flu while pregnant can also increase the need for admission to intensive care for mum and baby and may even lead to stillbirth or death.

Ask your pharmacist, GP or midwife about the free, safe and effective flu vaccine. Some midwives can give the flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the antenatal clinic. 

Flu can cause serious complications if you have a long-term health condition. The free flu vaccine is the very best protection for you from the harms of flu.

If you have diabetes, a long term respiratory, heart, kidney, liver or neurological condition, are immunosuppressed, morbidly obese, have problems with your spleen or a learning disability you are more likely to experience serious complications from flu.

All children who have long term health conditions should be offered flu vaccination from the age of six months.

Get the free flu vaccine – this will reduce the chance of you getting the flu. It will help to protect you and your baby from serious illness, providing your baby with protection for the first few months of life.

It is safe to have the flu vaccine during any stage of pregnancy and as a new mum.

It is also safe for women who are breastfeeding to have the vaccine.

No - the flu virus in the vaccine has been inactivated and cannot give you the flu. Some people may develop a mild fever and have a sore arm for a few days. These mild symptoms indicate that the vaccine is teaching your body's immune system how to protect itself from the disease.

Yes – it is up to you. You can have them at the same time or separately.

You do not need to delay vaccination until after you have given birth. Both the flu and COVID-19 vaccines do not contain any live viruses and cannot give you or your baby flu or COVID-19.