Annual flu vaccine: adults with long-term medical conditions

​​​​​​​Why you should have the annual flu vaccine

​The flu vaccine is offered free of charge to people considered at risk. This is to help protect the most vulnerable against catching flu and developing serious complications.

If you have a long-term medical condition, you should have the annual flu vaccine every year. 

This is because:

• catching flu could make your condition worse
• you are more likely to have a bad case of flu
• you may develop a serious complication and need a stay in hospital
  

The flu vaccine will help protect against flu, but won't protect you from COVID-19.

Check if you are eligible​ to get the COVID vaccine.​

Who should have the vaccine

We recommend you have the vaccine if you have:

• chronic respiratory disease or asthma that requires continuous  or repeated use of inhaled or systemic steroids, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or if you’ve been admitted to hospital for treatment of your condition
• asthma that requires continuous or repeated use of inhaled or systemic steroids
• chronic heart disease, such as heart failure
• chronic kidney disease, such as kidney failure
• chronic liver disease, such as chronic hepatitis
• chronic neurological disease, such as Parkinson’s disease or stroke
• diabetes type 1 or type 2 requiring insulin or oral hypoglycaemic drugs or diet-controlled
• a suppressed immune system due to disease or treatment like chemotherapy
• Asplenia or spleen dysfunction
  
• a BMI of more than 40

All pregnant women are recommended to have the flu vaccine to protect them and their baby during the winter. 

Annual flu vaccine for pregnant women

About the flu vaccine and who it's for​​​

​​Flu on NHS Choices website​

Where to get the vaccine

You can have the vaccine at your GP surgery or at a local pharmacy.

The flu vaccine is free for the following eligible islanders:

• all individuals aged 6 months and over in a clinical risk group
• all children aged 2, 3 and 4 years
• school aged children from reception up to year 11
• people aged 65 and over
• pregnant women
• household contacts of people with immunosuppression
• home carers
• care home and domiciliary staff
  
• frontline Health and Care Jersey staff

If you're eligible for your COVID-19 autumn booster, you may be able to receive your flu vaccine and booster together, check with your GP.

If you're not in one of the groups outlined above, you can still have flu vaccine privately. Ask your GP surgery or local pharmacy how much this will cost you.

V​accin​e safety

The vaccine can’t give you flu. The vaccine will stimulate your immune system to produce antibodies which help protect you against flu.​ 

The flu vaccine is safe and has been given to millions of people across the world.​ 

Mild side effects can include:

• a sore arm at the site of t​he injection
  
• occasionally a slight temperature
• occasionally aching muscles for a couple of days afterwards​