Flu vaccine
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The flu vaccine is the safest and most effective way to help protect against flu.
This year flu vaccinations have been taking place differently across Scotland to reflect the needs of local communities.
It has been challenging to deliver flu vaccinations while still taking precautions against coronavirus (COVID-19) infection for patients and staff.
The need to maintain good infection prevention and control measures and proper physical distancing has been important.
Self-help guide
Who will be offered the flu vaccine
The flu vaccination programme began on 1 October 2020 and the people most at risk have been prioritised.
The current level of seasonal flu remains very low. The risks associated with flu are considerably lower than in previous years.
Coronavirus is currently a greater risk within the community.
As a result, Scottish Ministers have decided to prioritise the coronavirus vaccination programme.
No further flu vaccination appointments will be offered, unless you fall into the following categories:
- Pregnant women
- People aged 60 and over (or will be by 31 March 2021)
- People aged 6 months or over with an eligible ‘at risk’ health condition
- Frontline health and social care workers
- Household members of those shielding
- Young and unpaid carers
- Children aged 2-5 years (at 1 September 2020)
- Primary-school aged children
If you're 16 years old or over and not eligible for the free vaccination you can get the vaccine in many community pharmacies for a fee.
If you need to use public transport to get to your appointment, this counts as essential travel.
Flu symptoms
Flu symptoms come on very quickly and can include symptoms such as:
- fever (temperature above 37.8°C)
- aches
- dry, chesty cough
- tiredness or exhaustion
- headache
More about the symptoms of flu or visit our the Self-help guide about Flu-like illness.
The vaccine
The vaccine takes around 10 days to work and should help protect you from flu for around a year. You have to get immunised every year because flu viruses change constantly and your immunity reduces over time.
The flu vaccine can’t give you flu, but it can stop you catching it.
Which vaccines are used?
The following vaccines are routinely used in Scotland:
- cell based Quadrivalent Inactivated Vaccine (QIVc) Flucelvax Tetra (Seqirus)
- egg based Quadrivalent Inactivated Vaccine (QIVe) Sanofi Pasteur)
- Adjuvanted Trivalent Inactivated Vaccine (aTIV) (Seqirus)
The adjuvanted Trivalent Inactivated Vaccine (aTIV) contains a substance, known as an adjuvant, to help to stimulate the immune system and create a better response.
This vaccine's been widely used in many other countries and has been shown to offer better and longer lasting protection in older people than flu vaccines without an adjuvant
It's being offered this year to people aged 65 or over.
If you have an egg allergy
Some of the vaccines for this year are prepared in hens’ eggs.
However one ‘egg-free’ brand which can be used in people from 2 years old is available.
Arrangements are also in place for younger children with an egg allergy to receive the flu vaccine.
If you're affected, please speak to your health professional for advice.
Vaccination is the best protection against flu
Over the last 10 years, the flu vaccine's generally been a good match for the circulating strains of flu.
You can be confident getting vaccinated is the best way to help protect yourself against flu.
Even when it's not as well matched, if you catch flu and you've had the vaccine, symptoms may be less severe, and you may be less likely to develop complications.
Vaccine safety
All medicines (including vaccines) are tested for safety and effectiveness before they're allowed to be used.
Once they're in use, the safety of vaccines continues to be monitored by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
People aged 65 or over, those with a health condition and carers
Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer recommends you have the free flu vaccine this year if you:
- are aged 65 or over (or will be by 31 March 2021)
- have an eligible health condition
- live in the same home as people previously shielding from coronavirus
- are an unpaid or young carer
With coronavirus around it's more important than ever to get the flu vaccine.
Getting the vaccine is the safest and most effective way to help protect yourself against flu and it's also one of the most important reasons for leaving your home.
If you are aged 65 or over, or have an eligible health condition, the risk of getting seriously ill with the flu virus is greater than the risk of going to get your vaccine.
During vaccination, strict infection prevention and control measures will be in place.
Why get the vaccine
Every year in Scotland, around two-thirds of people who get severe flu and need intensive care treatment have a health condition such as diabetes, chronic lung or heart disease.
Adults with a health condition are more at risk of flu-related complications and need extra protection. Even if you feel healthy or that your health condition is mild or well-managed.
Who's eligible for the flu vaccine
People with certain health conditions are at greater risk from flu. Conditions and diseases which can make flu more dangerous include:
Chronic respiratory disease (aged 6 months or older)
Asthma that requires continuous or repeated use of inhaled or systemic steroids or with previous exacerbations requiring hospital admission.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) including chronic bronchitis and emphysema; bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, interstitial lung fibrosis, pneumoconiosis and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).
Children who have previously been admitted to hospital for lower respiratory tract disease.
Chronic heart disease (aged 6 months or older)
Congenital heart disease, hypertension with cardiac complications, chronic heart failure, individuals requiring regular medication and/or follow-up for ischaemic heart disease.
Chronic kidney disease (aged 6 months or older)
Chronic kidney disease at stage 3, 4 or 5, chronic kidney failure, nephritic syndrome, kidney transplantation.
Chronic liver disease (aged 6 months or older)
Cirrhosis, biliary atresia, chronic hepatitis from any cause such as hepatitis B and C infections and other non-infective causes.
Chronic neurological disease (aged 6 months or older)
Stroke, transient ischaemic attack (TIA).
Conditions in which respiratory function may be compromised, due to neurological disease (e.g. polio syndrome sufferers).
Clinicians should offer immunisation, based on individual assessment, to clinically vulnerable individuals including those with cerebral palsy, learning disabilities, multiple sclerosis and related or similar conditions; or hereditary and degenerative disease of the nervous system or muscles; or severe neurological or severe learning disability.
Diabetes (aged 6 months or older)
Type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes requiring insulin or oral hypoglycaemic drugs, diet-controlled diabetes.
Immunosuppression (aged 6 months or older)
Immunosuppression due to disease or treatment, including patients undergoing chemotherapy leading to immunosuppression, bone marrow transplant. HIV infection at all stages, multiple myeloma or genetic disorders affecting the immune system (eg IRAK-4, NEMO, complement disorder).
Individuals treated with or likely to be treated with systemic steroids for more than a month at a dose equivalent to prednisolone at 20mg or more per day (any age) or for children under 20kg a dose of 1mg or more per kg per day.
Asplenia or dysfunction of the spleen
This also includes conditions such as homozygous sickle cell disease and coeliac syndrome that may lead to splenic dysfunction (i.e. those with coeliac disease that are considered to have functional hyposplenism).
Morbid obesity (class III obesity)
Adults with a Body Mass Index ≥ 40 kg/m². Check your Body Mass Index (BMI) with our easy-to-use calculator.
Anyone undergoing chemotherapy treatment or on medication that reduces their immunity is at higher risk and should get immunised.
If you’re under 18 years and have a health condition (or care for someone who does) you should also get the vaccine. You may be eligible to have the vaccine as a nasal (nose) spray. For more information visit the child flu page.
Carers
Unpaid carers and young carers are also eligible for the free flu vaccine.
Unpaid carers provide help and support to a partner, child, relative, friend or neighbour, who couldn’t manage without their help.
This could be due to age, physical or mental illness, addiction or disability.
A young carer is an under-18 providing support which would normally be undertaken by an adult.
Find out how to get the flu vaccine in your health board area
People aged 55 to 64
People aged 60 to 64, or will be by 31 March 2021, were invited to get the free flu vaccine in early December.
People in this age group who have already received a flu vaccine since September 2020 don't need to attend another flu vaccination appointment.
People aged 55 to 59 will not be invited for flu vaccination.
Current levels of seasonal flu remain very low.
The risks associated with flu are considerably lower than in previous years.
Coronavirus is currently a greater risk within the community. As a result, Scottish Ministers have decided to prioritise the COVID-19 vaccination programme.
People aged 55 to 59 will be invited for their COVID -19 vaccination as part of priority group 8 of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JVCI).
If you're living with someone previously shielding
If you live in the same home as someone who was previously advised to shield to protect them from coronavirus, you can now get the free flu vaccine.
This aims to provide additional indirect protection to individuals who were shielding.
Pregnant women
The Royal College of Midwives along with Scotland’s Chief Medical and Chief Nursing Officers recommend that all pregnant women should have the free flu vaccine every time you are pregnant as the flu viruses circulating change each year.
Why get the vaccine
Pregnant women are at a greater risk of serious flu-related complications such as early labour, low birth weight and stillbirth so need extra protection.
Every year in Scotland, a number of pregnant women will get influenza (flu virus), some will require hospital treatment or be admitted to intensive care.
Reducing your flu risk
Pregnant women with a health condition such as diabetes or asthma are particularly vulnerable.
The flu vaccine:
- can help protect you and your developing baby against this year’s flu virus and for at least three months after birth
- contains no live viruses, so it can't give you flu
- is safe for your baby and for you at any stage of your pregnancy
Stay protected
Even if you’ve had a flu vaccine in the past, you need to get protected again this year because the virus changes constantly and your immunity reduces over time.
It only takes a few minutes to get immunised. The flu vaccine takes around 10 days to work, so the sooner you get it the better.
You can get the flu vaccine at any stage of pregnancy and at the same time as the whooping cough vaccine.
Speak to your midwife for more information.
Keep healthy and flu free
If you’ve been pregnant before, remember that a healthy flu-free pregnancy last time is no guarantee you won’t catch flu this time. To make sure you get the maximum protection, you must get the vaccine again.
During vaccination, strict infection prevention and control measures will be in place.
Healthcare workers
Scotland’s Chief Medical and Chief Nursing Officers agree – healthcare workers should have the flu vaccine. If you don't get the vaccine you are putting yourself and people you care for at risk.
Healthcare workers should get the vaccine
Healthcare workers, directly delivering care, are more likely to be exposed to the flu virus.
Every year in Scotland, a number of healthcare workers get flu, particularly where there are flu outbreaks in care homes and hospitals.
Having the vaccine is the best way to help protect yourself against flu this year.
It reduces the risk of spreading flu to your family, patients and colleagues who could be at risk of catching the virus.
Healthcare workers who have flu can spread flu to their patients and family even if they've very mild symptoms or have no symptoms at all.
Patients with health conditions are 18 times more likely to die from flu than people without health conditions. In fact, people with a compromised immune system are over 50 times more likely than a healthy person to die of flu. And people with liver problems are 80 times more likely to die.
Even for healthy people, flu can be serious, making them feel extremely unwell and unable to carry on with everyday activities.
Who should have the flu vaccine
It’s recommended that anyone who works in healthcare and is directly involved in patient care, should have the flu vaccine. This includes, but isn't limited to:
- anyone who works in a GP practice, pharmacy, dental surgery or hospital
- workers in paediatric wards, cancer centres and intensive care
- those working in the community, visiting patients at home
More information for healthcare workers
Visit the NHS Education for Scotland website to find out why getting immunised against flu's important.
After the vaccine
As with all medicines, side effects of the flu vaccine are possible, but usually mild and may include:
- injection site tenderness, swelling and/or redness
- headache
- muscle ache
- fever (temperature above 37.8°C)
If you are concerned about your child or anyone else in your household who is unwell following a vaccination, call NHS24 on 111.
Flu vaccination, fever and coronavirus
It is quite common for children and adults to develop a fever after a vaccination. This would normally happen within 48 hours of the vaccination and usually goes away within 48 hours.
You don't need to self-isolate or book a coronavirus test unless you or your child have other coronavirus symptoms (a new continuous cough or a loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste) or:
- you have been told by NHS Test and Protect that you or your child are a close contact of someone who has tested positive for coronavirus
- you live with someone who has recently tested positive for coronavirus
- you live with someone who has symptoms of coronavirus
If the fever started 48 hours after the vaccination or continues beyond 48 hours from the time of the vaccination, you should self-isolate and book a test for you or your child. Your household should follow the guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection.
Further information about vaccine side effects
More information on the possible side effects of the flu vaccine is available in the Patient Information Leaflets (PILs):
- cell based Quadrivalent Inactivated Vaccine (QIVc) Flucelvax Tetra (Seqirus)
- egg based Quadrivalent Inactivated Vaccine (QIVe) Sanofi Pasteur)
- Adjuvanted Trivalent Inactivated Vaccine (aTIV) (Seqirus)
Where can I report suspected side effects?
You can report suspected side effects of vaccines and medicines through the Yellow Card Scheme.
This can be done by:
- visiting the Yellow Card Scheme website
- phoning the free Yellow Card hotline on 0800 731 6789 (9am to 5pm Monday to Friday)
Further information
If you’re unsure about anything, or have any questions about the flu vaccine, speak to a health professional, such as your immunisation or practice nurse or GP.
Immunisation leaflets
Public Health Scotland have produced leaflets explaining the flu vaccination in Scotland, why it's offered and when it's given.
The leaflets are produced in Easy Read English and other languages – including Polish, Mandarin (Simplified Chinese) and Arabic.
Living with a health condition flu leaflet
Work in health care? flu leaflet
