Eligibility for the vaccine

Each year in Wales, around a million people have their flu vaccine. That’s more than one in every four people.  

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. 

Who should have the flu vaccine? 

You should have the flu vaccine if you are: 

pregnant
aged 65 or over (or turn 65 before the end of the flu vaccination programme – usually March each year), or
aged six months to 64 years with a long-term health condition, including:
- problems with your chest or breathing, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma, that need regular steroid inhalers or tablets 
- a heart problem 
- kidney disease (from stage 3) 
- liver disease  
- nerve conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease or motor neurone disease 
- a learning disability  
- severe mental illness 
- diabetes 
- epilepsy 
- a weak immune system due to illness or treatment  
- a missing spleen or a problem with your spleen, or 
- being very overweight (a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more and aged 16 or over).

Even if you feel well, you are at higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu if any of the above apply to you.  

The following people should also have the flu vaccine to help protect themselves and those around them. 

People living in a care home 
People working directly with patients or clients in health or social care 
People who are homeless 
Poultry workers who are at high risk  
Children aged two and three years (age on 31 August)  
School-age children and young people from reception to year 11 
Carers 
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 have their vaccine as a quick and painless nasal spray, where a fine mist is sprayed up the nose from the tip of each nostril. The nasal spray vaccine is the recommend flu vaccine for most children and young people 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 age or GP surgery if they are not in school.

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

How to get your flu vaccine

The table below shows who can have the flu vaccine and where to get it.

Children aged two or three (age on 31 August 2025)	GP surgery (in some areas, three-year-olds are offered the vaccine at nursery)
Primary and secondary school children	At school
Children aged four or older who are not in school	GP surgery (you will need to make an appointment)
Children aged six months to 17 years with a long-term health condition	GP surgery (school-age children will be offered the flu vaccine at school)
Pregnant women	GP surgery, some local pharmacies, or from your midwife (in some areas of Wales)
Adults with a long-term health condition	GP surgery or your local pharmacy
People aged 65 or over	GP surgery or your local pharmacy
Unpaid carers	GP surgery or your local pharmacy
Domiciliary carers  (those who provide care in people’s homes)	Local pharmacy (in some areas there are other arrangements)
Care home staff	Local pharmacy (in some areas there are other arrangements)
Health and social care workers	Through your employer or from your GP surgery
Poultry workers at highest risk	Local pharmacy

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

Adults

Children and young people

Poultry workers

Poultry workers aged 16 and over who live in Wales can get a free NHS Wales flu vaccine this autumn or winter.   

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

Flu letter for poultry workers (Bilingual)