Why get a flu vaccine
A high uptake of the flu vaccine will help:
- improve the general respiratory health of all islanders
- reduce the pressure on the health service
- and allow the better delivery of care for all islanders
The flu vaccine will help protect against flu, but won't protect you from COVID-19. Please see the link here to obtain your Covid-19 vaccine.
Get your COVID vaccine
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 11people aged 50 and over
- pregnant women
- household contacts of people with immunosuppression
- home carers
- care home and domiciliary staff
- frontline health and community services 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.
When it's available
The flu vaccine is available annually. The best time to have the flu vaccine is before the start of the flu season. It’s important to be patient with the GPs, nurses and pharmacists who are administering the vaccine. Don't jump the queue, you'll be seen.
We have enough stock of the flu vaccine for all at risk groups.
Types of flu vaccine available
All flu vaccines are designed to protect against the strains of flu expected to be circulating in the following winter.
Nasal vaccine for children
For children aged 2 years old and onwards the nasal flu vaccine is the most effective against the flu.
The nasal flu vaccine can't be given to children under two years. For children aged 6 months up to 2 years there is only the injected flu vaccine available.
There is no flu vaccine for children under 6 months of age. This is why all pregnant women should have the flu vaccine to protect themselves and their baby during their first few months of life.
Injection for adults
For adults the flu vaccine is given as an injection into the upper arm (the nasal flu vaccine cannot be used as it is not licensed for use in adults).
The brand of flu injection given to adults may vary depending on a person's age. This is because some flu vaccines are designed to be effective for specific age groups.
The doctor, nurse or pharmacist may ask you your age to ensure they use the most effective vaccine for your age group. Tell them if you are aged 65 or over.
Children recommended to have the flu vaccine
Children who have a long-term medical condition aged 6 months up to 2 years | GP surgery | Free |
|---|
Pre-school children(2, 3 and 4 year olds)
| Nasal vaccine is offered at nursery settings and GP surgeries during October and November. Check with your nursery when the nasal vaccinations will be given in nursery | Free |
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| School age children in Reception and years one to 11 | Nasal vaccine will be offered in schools during September and October.
| Free |
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| Young people who have a long term medical condition in the age range of year groups 12 and 13 | GP surgery or pharmacy | Free |
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GP's will be offering the nasal vaccine on a first come first served basis for those aged 2 to 4 years old. We recommend you take up the offer of vaccination while stocks are available. You'll not be charged for the visit.
Annual nasal flu vaccine for children
Adults recommended to have the flu vaccine
Pregnant women
| Pharmacy or GP surgery | Free |
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Aged 50 or over
| Pharmacy or GP surgery
Flu vaccine may be given at the same time as other vaccines, check with your GP.
| Free
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| Aged 16 to 50 with a long-term medical condition | Pharmacy or GP surgery | Free
|
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Annual flu vaccine for pregnant women
Annual Flu vaccine: adults with long-term medical conditions
Flu on NHS Choices website
If you're not in a clinical risk or eligible group
If you're not in one of the clinical risk or eligible groups, you can still have the flu vaccine privately. Ask your GP surgery or local pharmacy how much this will cost you.
Symptoms of flu
Some of the main symptoms of flu include:
- a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or above
- a dry, chesty cough
- general aches and pains
- a headache
- tiredness and weakness
Most people will feel better within a week.
Ring your GP for advice if you think you have flu, particularly if you're pregnant or have a long-term medical condition.
Difference between flu symptoms and COVID-19
A high uptake of the flu vaccine will help to reduce confusion over symptoms relating to the flu virus and COVID-19. There is some overlap between the symptoms of flu and COVID, so vaccination is important.
Flu symptoms usually tend to come on suddenly whereas COVID symptoms usually come on more slowly.
If you're unsure about whether you have COVID or not, self-isolate and phone your GP surgery for advice.
Find out more about coronavirus
NHS choices on the NHS website
How to reduce your risk of catching flu
Flu is very infectious and the virus can live on hands and hard surfaces for up to 24 hours. So it's important to keep surfaces and frequently touched objects clean. Examples of these are door handles, children’s toys, your keyboard and remote controls.
This is why it's important to “Catch it, Bin it, Kill it”:
- “Catch” any sneezes in a tissue
- “Bin” any tissues immediately
- “Kill” the virus by washing your hands with soap and warm water
Avoid contact with sick people and wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub.
If you're unwell, look after yourself, drink plenty of fluids and stay at home so you don’t spread flu to others.
The vaccine remains the best defence we have to protect against the spread of flu.
gov.je