Eligibility for the vaccine

Flu is more likely to be serious if you have a long-term health condition, are pregnant, or are older.

Flu can also be serious for young children.

Last year in Wales, nearly a million people got their flu vaccine. That’s around one in every three people.

If any of the following apply to you, even if you feel healthy, you are more likely to get complications from flu if you catch it, and you are advised to have a flu vaccine if:

You are pregnant
You are aged 65 or over
You are aged six months to 64 years and have a long-term health condition that puts you at increased risk from flu, including but not limited to:
- Diabetes
- A heart problem
- A chest complaint or breathing difficulties, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma that requires regular steroid inhalers or tablets
- Kidney disease (from stage 3)
- A weak immune system due to disease or treatment (and also close contacts of people in this group)
- Liver disease
- Had a stroke or mini stroke
- A neurological condition like Parkinson’s disease, or motor neurone disease
- A missing spleen or a problem with it
- Learning disability
- Severe mental illness
- Morbidly obese (class III obesity). This is defined as those with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or above, aged 16 or over.
- Epilepsy
You live in a care home
You are homeless
You are a poultry worker at high risk

The following groups are also advised to have a flu vaccine to protect them and the people around them:

Children aged two and three years old (age on 31 August 2024)
Children and young people in school from Reception class to Year 11
Carers
People working directly with patients/clients in health or social care
First responders and members of voluntary organisations providing planned emergency first aid
Those who live with someone who has a weak immune system

Most children and young people will get a nasal spray vaccine as this is the best flu vaccine for them. It is a fine mist sprayed up the nose and can be given from the age of two.

If your child is eligible for a flu vaccine, you should be contacted by their GP surgery or school nurse. If you think your child might have missed their vaccine, contact the school nurse if they are school aged, or GP surgery if they are not in school.

If you think you might have missed the invitation for a flu vaccine, contact your GP or your community pharmacy.

How to get your flu vaccine

Children two or three years (age on 31 August 2024)	GP surgery (NB, in some areas, three-year-olds are offered the vaccine in nursery)
Primary and secondary school children	Primary and secondary school
Children aged four or older not in school	Make an appointment with the GP surgery
Children aged 6 months to under 18 years with long term health condition	GP surgery (NB. primary and secondary school aged children will be offered their flu vaccine in school)
Pregnant women	GP surgery, some community pharmacies or, in some areas of Wales from their midwife
Long term health conditions (adults)	GP surgery or some community pharmacies
People aged 65 or over	GP surgery or some community pharmacies
Unpaid carers	GP surgery or some community pharmacies
Domiciliary carers	Community pharmacy (or in some areas, there are other arrangements)
Care home staff	Community pharmacy (or in some areas, there are other arrangements)
Health and social care workers	Via employer
Poultry workers at highest risk	Community pharmacy

Ideally, the flu vaccine should be given before flu starts to spread in the community. However, it can still be given at a later date. 

Adults

Children and young people

Poultry workers

Poultry workers aged 18 and over who live in Wales can get a free NHS Wales flu vaccine this autumn/winter.  

Employers of poultry workers can give staff the following confirmation letter to take to the pharmacy for their vaccine:.  

Flu letter for poultry workers (Bilingual)