Flu Vaccination: Protect Yourself and People you Care For

Why flu vaccination matters

• Last winter, flu vaccination prevented an estimated 100,000 hospital
admissions and 7,000 deaths.
• Up to 50% of confirmed flu infections do not have symptoms, meaning
unvaccinated staff can unknowingly pass the virus to people accessing care
and support and to colleagues.
• You can read more about why it’s important to get vaccinated here.
How effective is the vaccine?
The flu vaccine:
• Makes symptoms milder and illness shorter if you do catch flu.
• Helps protect throughout the flu season.
What about side effects?
Most people have no side effects. Some may have:
• Mild temperature for 1–2 days.
• Sore arm where injected.
• These are much milder than actual flu.
Getting vaccinated
The adult flu vaccination programme starts from 1 October.
We encourage those eligible to get vaccinated before winter, to help protect
themselves, their families and the people they care for.
If eligible staff cannot access the flu vaccine through their employer, they can get it
through their GP, a participating community pharmacy or the general booking portal.
All other eligible people can access the flu vaccine from their GP, a community
pharmacy, maternity services (if they are pregnant) or a care home (if they live in a
care home).