Flu vaccination 

Introduction 

Is this year's vaccine safe?

Although no medical procedure is totally free of risk, flu vaccines are generally very safe. The most common reaction to the jab is a sore arm, or you may feel hot for a day or two after the vaccination.

This year’s flu jabs have been tested and approved for use across the UK and in Europe. The jab cannot give you flu because it doesn't contain any active viruses.

The Department of Health recommends that everyone who is eligible for a flu jab should have it as soon as the vaccine is available.

If you are in an at-risk group and do not have the jab, you will have a greater risk of developing serious complications or even dying if you get flu this winter.

If you haven't had the flu vaccine and you are in a risk group, make an appointment to get vaccinated.

Find out more about the flu vaccine, including how the vaccine is made and how it protects you.

Flu (also known as influenza) is a highly infectious illness caused by the flu virus. It spreads rapidly through small droplets coughed or sneezed into the air by an infected person.

Studies have shown that flu vaccines provide effective protection against the flu, although protection may not be complete and may vary between people. Protection from the vaccine gradually decreases and flu strains change over time. Therefore, new vaccines are made each year and people at risk of flu are encouraged to be vaccinated every year.

The flu vaccination is offered to people in at-risk groups. These people are at greater risk of developing serious complications if they catch flu, such as pregnant women and elderly people.

Find out who should have the flu jab.

This year's flu jab (2011)

This winter’s flu jab protects against the same three strains of flu as last year’s vaccines. These include the H1N1 strain of the flu virus. H1N1 is the same strain of flu that caused the 2009 swine flu pandemic.

H1N1 is included because it is likely to be one of the major flu strains circulating in Britain this winter.

The best time to have a flu jab is in the autumn, from September to early November.

Find out more about getting the flu jab.

Last reviewed: 13/09/2024

Next review due: 13/09/2024

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27 Comments

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Comments are personal views. Any information they give has not been checked and may not be accurate.

krudge4 said on 07 November 2024

I had a flu jab 1 week ago 3 days after having it i developed the worst cold I have had for years,I thought nothing of it until a friend told me that his brother had a flu jab and 2 days later developed a terrible cold, has anyone had a similar experience???

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Syboat said on 09 October 2024

I don't understand- I purchased a Flu jab last year from Boots. It contained all three strains including swine flu- Is there any point in me buying the vaccine that contains the same three strains as last year?
My understanding is that my body can defend against those three.

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redmerlin said on 06 October 2024

Just my opinion.
My Mother died from Flu. Very suddenly, very quickly Christmas Eve 1978.
I remember the Hong Kong , Russian flu epidemics. We have had nothing like those since and going back even further the Spanish Flu epidemic that killed between 50 - 100 millions world wide after the first world war.
Interestingly the Russian Flu outbreak in 1977 affected mostly children and young people. The adults of that time had already been exposed to the similar virus that caused flu epidemics in 1947 - 1957 so they were immune.
Most young to middle aged people do not die from flu unless they have an underlying health problem (There may not be an awareness of this)
It makes sense if you are at risk to get the vaccination. For normal healthy people it is OK to catch flu or any other virus that is doing the rounds. it is a rather unpleasant way to become immunised but it is free!

My view on getting colds or flu is pragmatic. There are over 200 viruses out there that cause colds and flu. Every time you become ill with one of these you can strike THAT virus off your list. In effect you are becoming immune to at least 100 and you wont get THAT wretched cold again!
However tiny babies and the elderly should be protected for obvious reasons for in 70 or so years of life you are probably not going to get all 200+ viruses and immunisation helps prevent needless death and to some extent spread of the worst bugs.
To those who say the jab gave them flu that has never gone away I suggest it may be due to other viruses. If a person has low resistance they will be an easy target for all viruses and bacteria.
be sensible get yourself checked out if you are constantly showing flu like symptoms.( Flu symptoms are NOT like a bad cold...with bad flu there is no way you can go about normal daily routine!)

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wildthing01 said on 20 September 2024

I'm really struggling to get a flu jab for my little girl. She doesn't fall into an 'at risk' category, so cannot access a jab on the NHS. I tried private suppliers like Boots, but they will not administer the jab to under 16s. So she is stuck.

It seems unfair that as an adult (also not in an 'at risk' category), I can choose to get a jab privately, but my little girl who is probably more 'at risk' that I am, cannot.

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siu0be0doo said on 10 September 2024

does anyone know how much it cost to pay for a flu job

I don't fall into any of the high risk categories yet throughout the year regardless of summer or winter I always seem to get the flu. It takes ages to get over it as I cant afford to take time off from work to rest the wat your advised to do so :(

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onefluover said on 13 January 2025

I had the flu vaccine in November 10 and developed flu this week.I have been in bed for a few days and lost my voice.I was very weak with pains everywhere including constant headaches. Just wondered whether this is common.

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Campion said on 06 January 2025

I am having a knee replacement at the end of February and have not had my Flu jab--I am 69,is there a time limit prior to my operation to have a flu jab---if I can get one?

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Tolera said on 02 January 2025

We read the labels on jam jars to decide if we think will buy them or not.
We should also be informed of the full details of all vaccine ingredients.
In this way we will have the opportunity to find out about the effects and side effects of the various ingredients.
We must be allowed to decide what is introduced into our bodies.

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hightown said on 24 December 2024

The Chief Medical Officer is on TV telling us to get the flu vaccine but nothing is said about the people who are allergic to eggs and cannot be given the vaccine
I can eat free range organic eggs but cannot eat battery produced eggs without being in a lot of pain I am allergic to Penicillin so this may be the problem as I understand battery hens are vaccinated with Penicillin
My Health Nurse cannot give me an answer why there is not a vaccine produced for people who are allergic but it is annoying to get somene on TV to keep on about getting vaccinated

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CHamzz said on 22 December 2024

sheel has made a valid point. The decision to accept a flu jab should remain a choice, however irrational some people find it to decline a jab. As is pointed out on this page all vaccines carry some kind of risk. The NHS only has to ensure patients are kept informed with balanced views.

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sheel said on 22 December 2024

I find the one of the statements here, "Stop reading the Daily mail, its making you anxious", a little insulting! There are many many more reports about the swine flue vacine and this years combined flue jab, other than the Daily Mail! A lot of these reports are by Proffesionals! Loook at the uptake of this years flue jab with healthcare proffesionals, many of these peopple are not having the flue jab this year either.
It is everyones choice and i am getting even more concerned at the way in which we are being "Made to feel more scared, by the way in which publicity is being used to scare everyone into having thhis combined flue jab"!
Why did they combine this years with the H1N1, they could of continued to offer it as a seperate jab, where a choice was available.
If everyone is so sure within the industry which makes these cocktails, "then why are we not able to make them give us a guarantee that they are safe and give us the right to Sue them if there are problems"?
If i should do anything to another person that would cause that person any harm, they would have the right to prosecute me and ask for damages!

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User511324 said on 20 December 2024

The re-written page makes it slightly easier to understand the protection offered and why H1N1 was included even when the World health Organisation have declared the pandemic over in 2009. However, there is no explanation why the groups elegible have been extended. For example, I was offered the jab as I am pregnant. Last year pregnant women who were not in a high risk group were not offered the jab. If H1N1 is just another strain of the flu why are more people being offered the jab this year? On the basis women like me were not offered the jab in any other year I have decided not to accept the offer this year.

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User511324 said on 20 December 2024

The re-written page makes it slightly easier to understand the protection offered and why H1N1 was included even when the World health Organisation have declared the pandemic over in 2009. However, there is no explanation why the groups elegible have been extended. For example, I was offered the jab as I am pregnant. Last year pregnant women who were not in a high risk group were not offered the jab. If H1N1 is just another strain of the flu why are more people being offered the jab this year? On the basis women like me were not offered the jab in any other year I have decided not to accept the offer this year.

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CFinucane said on 16 December 2024

Thanks to everyone who has contributed below. On reading your comments, we have improved the page as there seems to be some serious misunderstandings about this year’s flu jab.

In particular, readers should note that the inclusion of protection against the H1N1 flu strain in this year’s jab does not alter the safety profile of the jab in any way. H1N1 was the strain of flu behind last year’s swine flu pandemic, but there is no longer anything special about it – it’s just another strain of flu covered by the jab.

Each year the seasonal flu jab contains protections against several strains of flu and this year it just happens that H1N1 is one of them.

Some of you have made connections between H1N1 vaccination and Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), a rare but serious disease of the nervous system. A lot of studies have been done to investigate this possibility. Some studies cannot find any risk at all of GBS after flu vaccination. One study has found that there might be one extra case of GBS for every million flu vaccine injections.

But there is also good evidence that viral infections such as flu itself are triggers for GBS - and the risk of GBS being triggered by flu is much higher than any possible vaccine risk. This means that by having the flu vaccine you are more likely to be protected against GBS.

The Editor, Health A-Z

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zacmcd said on 16 December 2024

Stop reading the Daily Mail, its clearly causing you anxiety.

Try:
Review Shows Safety of H1N1 Vaccine, Officials Say
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/05/health/05flu.html?_r=1&ref=health

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sheel said on 07 December 2024

I would prefer to have the choice i had last year, to have the normal seasonal flu jab and not the swine flu jab!
This year i am not given that choice, there has been no consideration given to me at all. I asked my surgery if i could get the normal seasonal flu jab, the answer was "no, we only have this one"! So i have opted out and will have no protection this year. Yes, thats my choice, because there is no alternative on offer for me.
I have not done this lightly. I suffer from COPD and Astma and have many underlying health problems, on-going and under investigation. I have been advised, due to these, i should take the flue jab. However, i feel that since my health is not that good anyway, that the swine flue that has been added to this year's vacination, i could possibly be more at risk of one of the serious symptoms that seems to be evident, concerning this vaccine.
I have researched as much as i can about the swine flue vacination and the pro's and con's, i find it very scarey that opinions differ across the board and across borders. But most of all, i am truely angry that i have not been given the alternative "CHOICE" of a normal seasonal flu jab. So, now i have nothing!
Yes, at least its my choice.

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clareg33 said on 06 November 2024

My mum had her flu vaccine about 3 weeks ago and is now in intensive care with a very rare condition called Guillain Barre which can be fatal if not diagnosed quickly. Reports suggest that it can be triggered by flu vaccines, especially H1N1 vaccines.

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FatOinkingLies said on 02 November 2024

Hypocrites, choices! haha, whats the choice have or not have. Thought they'd include H1N1 hoping we're asleep this time :P Misinformation amounts to lies simple as.

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FatOinkingLies said on 02 November 2024

By including H1N1 you are removing our choices. The only choice is to have the jab or not, and I am tired of being asked my reasons why I dont want this vaccine... my body my choice, no thanks! I will take my chances with flu thank you.

I have previously taken the seasonal shots, but am not taken in by the mass hysteria of a swine flu pandemic that never happened.... perhaps big pharma should go peddle in a few more third world countries.

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Kenyond1 said on 19 October 2024

There is also a lack of statistics of the number of cases, or deaths from Swine flu, or indeed the seasonal Flu last year, and the number of deaths of seasonal flu of those who had received the vaccine?

Also no notice of the other ingredients included in the vaccine?

I would want to know exactly what it contains...

The swine flu vaccine has not been as rigorously tested as other vaccines, which is why over half of doctors refused to take the vaccine:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1208716/Half-GPs-refuse-swine-flu-vaccine-testing-fears.html

And now it is included, so you have only one choice.

Furthermore, the companies that make it have secured indemnity against prosecution should death result from the vaccine.

Further Information on the Origins of (the) Swine flu / vaccine can be read here.

http://swineflu.mercola.com

Please research for your self on the web, then make an informed decision for your own health, not just from the NHS info, it is only One source!

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Epick said on 16 October 2024

Sorry I should have added on my comment that the H1N1 virus is actually the swine flue.

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Epick said on 16 October 2024

On 10 August 2010, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the H1N1 influenza pandemic was officially over. We have now entered the post-pandemic period.

However, it is important not to ignore H1N1 flu.

The H1N1 flu virus will be one of the main viruses circulating this winter. Therefore, the H1N1 flu virus has been included in the 2010-11 seasonal flu vaccine.

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healthserviceprovider said on 15 October 2024

I actually give this jab to patients. Please ask your GP/nurse to show you the paper information when having the jab. If you read it, it actually says by H1N1 information, that it is a 'like strain'. It is NOT SWINE FLU! The advertisement is completely misleading. I myself have had this jab this year, and I personally would not have had it if it had had the swine flu included

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Tpbb said on 14 October 2024

NHS Choices, is about patients having a choice, by putting the Swine Flu Jab, with the Seasonal one, does not give one the choice just to have the Seasonal one, at least last year, one could choose just to have the Seasonal on, now it's being forced with the Sesonal one, so now I for one, and I know another 3 people, who will be not having this years Seasonal Flu Jab because of it having the Swine one added, because of safty fears. One country Finland has done this regarding the Swine Flu Jab: Health officials in Finland suspended the vaccination programme in August this year following reports of narcolepsy in eight people who had received the jab.

Very dissapointed in the move to add it to the Seasonal Flu Jab and take away some of our rights, just to have the Seasonal one, on it's own.

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fixerman said on 14 October 2024

I received my flu jab from the nurse in our local surgery and i enquired about Swine Flu. She advised me that the jab i had received does not protect against Swine Flu. A friend of mine has decided not to have the flu jab because she is concerned about the side effects of the Swine Flu component.

Clarification is required urgently!!!!!

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tpb said on 14 October 2024

Nhs Choices, what choice do we have by adding the Swine flu vaccine, with the seasonal flu jab? At least last year we could refuse the swine flu jab, but this year it's being forced on people if they have the saesonal flu jab, I for one will be refusing it, as there are saftey fears with the Swine Flu jab, as Health officials in Finland suspended the vaccination programme in August this year following reports of narcolepsy in eight people who had received the jab.

Very dissapointed with this move with the seasonal flu jab this year.

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jill56m said on 13 October 2024

Having just read this page I decided to look up one of the links on the page regarding the seasonal flu Jab.
this was in PDF format, and on page 5 it clearly states that this jab does NOT protect against swine flu!!!

This is in complete contradiction to the main page which states that the 2010/11 seasonal flu jab COMBINES the swine flu vaccination.
This leaflet is dated 2009 which is obviously out of date!
This information then, is very misleading.
I would be interested to know what anybody thinks about this!

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External links

Flu and the flu jab

Read about the symptoms of flu and find out whether you should get the jab

10 myths about flu and the flu jab

Ten common myths about flu and the flu vaccination, and the truth behind them

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