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Influenza (flu) is an infectious virus and can be serious. Symptoms may include a fever, a cough, a headache and tiredness. The virus spreads through the air when people cough or sneeze, or when they touch surfaces where the virus has landed then touch their eyes, nose or mouth. You can catch flu all year round, but it’s especially common in winter.
Flu can be serious, even if you’re healthy. For some people, it can lead to complications that may require hospital care or may even cause death.
Flu can be serious for some people. This year’s vaccine gives you the best possible protection against the flu viruses likely to be circulating this season.
The vaccine helps protect you from getting the flu. If you do get flu and have been vaccinated, the symptoms are likely to be milder and not last as long. This will reduce your risk of needing to go to hospital with serious flu illness.
It also helps to reduce the spread of flu and may protect those around you from getting ill.
The flu vaccine has been used in Scotland’s flu vaccination programme since 2000, with millions of doses given.
The flu vaccine will be given as an injection in the upper arm.
You only need one dose of the flu vaccine each flu season.
Flu vaccines help protect against the main types of flu viruses that are expected to be circulating in winter.
You have to get vaccinated every year because flu viruses are constantly changing. A different vaccine is made every year to ensure the best protection against the latest types of flu.
It works by teaching your body’s immune system how to protect itself from flu. Once you get the vaccine, it takes around 10 days for the vaccine to work. The flu vaccine itself cannot give you flu.
All medicines (including vaccines) are tested for safety and efficacy 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).
The flu vaccine is offered to adults who are most at risk of getting seriously ill from flu.
Older adults and people with certain health conditions are more at risk of flu-related complications and need extra protection, even if their health condition is mild or well managed.
You’ll be offered the flu vaccine this year if you’re:
Read more about the child flu vaccine including who is eligible.
People with certain health conditions are at greater risk from flu.
Congenital heart disease, hypertension with cardiac complications, chronic heart failure, individuals requiring regular medication and/or follow-up for ischaemic heart disease. This includes individuals with atrial fibrillation, peripheral vascular disease or a history of venous thromboembolism
Chronic kidney disease at stage 3, 4 or 5, chronic kidney failure, nephrotic syndrome, kidney transplantation.
Cirrhosis, biliary atresia, chronic hepatitis.
Clinicians should offer the vaccine, based on individual assessment, to clinically vulnerable individuals including those with cerebral palsy, severe or profound learning disabilities, Down’s syndrome, multiple sclerosis, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease and related or similar conditions; or hereditary and degenerative disease of the nervous system or muscles; or severe neurological disability.
Type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes requiring insulin or oral hypoglycaemic drugs, diet-controlled diabetes. Addison’s disease, secondary or tertiary adrenal insufficiency requiring steroid replacement.
Weakened immune system due to disease or treatment, including patients who:
Individuals who are receiving immunosuppressive or immunomodulating biological therapy including, but not limited to:
Patients receiving protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors, and individuals treated with steroid sparing agents such as cyclophosphamide and mycophenolate mofetil.
This also includes conditions such as homozygous sickle cell disease, hereditary spherocytosis, thalassemia major and coeliac syndrome that may lead to splenic dysfunction.
Adults with a Body Mass Index ≥ 40 kg/m².
At any stage of pregnancy (first, second or third trimesters).
If you feel your condition or medication does not appear on the list, please talk to the clinician that manages your condition. They may be able to refer you to your NHS Board for vaccination if appropriate.
Anyone undergoing chemotherapy treatment or on medication that reduces their immunity is at higher risk and should get immunised.
If you care for someone who is eligible for the flu vaccine, you should also get the vaccine.
Like all medicines, the flu vaccine can cause side effects. This is normal but not everyone gets them. It shows the vaccine is teaching your body’s immune system how to protect itself from the disease.
These potential side effects are much less serious than flu or complications associated with flu.
Side effects are usually mild and may include:
You may also feel generally unwell. These possible side effects usually go away within a few days.
You can rest and take the normal dose of paracetamol (follow the advice in the packaging) to help make yourself feel better.
Do not give medicines that contain aspirin to children under 16 years of age.
If your GP practice is closed, phone 111. If you have any concerns, trust your instincts.
You can report suspected side effects of vaccines and medicines through the Yellow Card Scheme.
This can be done by:
Most adults can have the flu vaccine. But you should seek advice from your health professional if you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to a flu vaccine in the past or to any of the vaccine ingredients.
You may be at risk of an allergic reaction to the flu vaccine if you have an egg allergy. This is because some flu vaccines are made using eggs. It’s important that you tell the person giving you your vaccine if you have an egg allergy or if you’ve ever had a serious allergic reaction to a flu vaccine or if you’ve ever had a serious allergic reaction to anything.
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