Until now, only selected groups could access free NHS booster jabs, and there wasn't an option to get the jab privately.
If you're looking to get a flu or covid jab, check if you're eligible for a free one first below. If not, we've rounded up the cheapest places to book one.
Read on to find out how and where to book your vaccinations.
Who's eligible for a free NHS Covid booster shot?
You're eligible for a free Covid booster jab if you fall into any of the following groups:
This is a narrower group than in previous years, based on who is likely to be most at risk of severe illness.
If you're eligible, you should usually receive a text message or a letter offering you an appointment, with those at highest risk being called in first. If you’re also eligible for a flu vaccine, you might be able to get this at the same time.
But if you think you qualify, and haven't heard anything, you can contact your GP to find out.
Where to get a private Covid vaccine in the UK
Pharmacies in England and Scotland will be able to offer Covid jabs to private patients (provided by Pharmadoctor) with bookings being taken from 1 April 2024.
At £45 per dose, it's much pricier than your average flu shot, which is usually between £10 and £20. However, it's cheaper than other winter vaccinations, such as the PCV (pneumonia) jab which is typically around £70 per dose.
- few people are eligible for free tests now, check the eligibility list and see where to buy the cheapest packsWho can get a free NHS flu vaccination?
People in the following groups are eligible for a free flu vaccination:
Primary school children and first-year secondary school children will get a nasal spray vaccine or injection at school. Babies under two years old can get a free vaccine at the GP.
If you're eligible, you may already have been contacted by the NHS inviting you to get a free flu vaccine. If you haven't heard anything yet, you can check in with your GP.
Check if you can get a free flu jab via an employer scheme
If you're currently working, it's worth checking to see if your employer offers a free flu vaccine as part of its benefits package.
Some do this, usually in the form of a voucher that you can redeem at a participating pharmacy.
Where to find the cheapest flu vaccinations if you have to pay
If you’re not eligible for a free flu shot, you can pay privately for one at a pharmacy.
- pack more variety into your diet with our guide to the best home delivery veg boxesFlu vaccine safety and side effects
Most side effects are mild and only last for a day or two. They're similar to side effects from the Covid vaccine and include:
The NHS recommends taking a painkiller after your vaccination and moving your arm around to lessen the above side effects.
None of the flu vaccines contain live viruses, so they can't give you the flu. But you may get the fever symptoms detailed above as your immune system mounts a response to the vaccine.
Is it safe to get a flu jab and Covid booster at the same time?
If you’re eligible for both the flu and Covid booster vaccines, you might be offered these at the same time in one appointment.
A clinical trial has shown that it's safe to get both at the same appointment, with no negative impact on the immune response.
Some people reported more side effects from having both jabs, but these were still mild and resolved within a few days.
Will the flu vaccination protect me from Covid?
No, the flu vaccine only provides a measure of protection against the main strains of seasonal flu – Covid vaccines provide the best possible protection against coronavirus.
And people vulnerable to Covid are also at risk of complications from flu, so it's particularly important for those most at risk to get vaccinated against flu.
Can you get the flu jab if you're pregnant?
However, the UKHSA says that while there was a record uptake of the flu jab in people over 65 in 2021 and 2022, there was lower uptake among pregnant women, despite the fact that both flu and Covid pose a serious risk to both mother and baby.
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists says that pregnant women have been prioritised for a Covid booster as they're at increased risk of severe Covi, and serious infection can put their babies at risk of being born prematurely.
Private health under the microscope undefinedsource https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/covid-and-flu-jabs-can-you-get-free-jabs-aSS3y3s0bDZH