How do I prevent flu?
Flu is very infectious. It spreads easily through coughs and sneezes.
Having good hygiene can help you prevent catching and spreading flu.
You can:
- wash your hands with warm water and soap regularly
- clean the most used surfaces in your home, such as door handles, lights, switches, remote controls and worktops
- cover your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze. Try to use disposable tissues and throw them in the bin straight away. If you do not have a tissue, cover your mouth and nose with the bend in your elbow.
Catching and spreading flu
You're more likely to give flu to other people in the first five days of infection. Flu viruses can live on hands and surfaces for up to 24 hours.
If you have a high temperature or do not feel well enough to do everyday activities, try to stay at home and away from other people until you feel better. If you cannot stay at home, try wearing a face covering or mask when you go out.
Flu vaccines
Getting your flu vaccine is the best way to protect yourself from flu. It can also help to protect others.
Getting the flu vaccine can prevent the spread of flu to friends, family and anyone you come into contact with, including those at high risk from flu.
Flu vaccines help protect you from the main types of flu virus around each year.
Types of flu vaccine
There are different types of flu vaccine available each year.
Most adults will have an injection, and most children will have a nasal spray vaccine.
Your GP, nurse or pharmacist will recommend the one that's best for you.
Who can have a free flu vaccine
Most people with lung conditions can get a free flu vaccine.
You can get a free flu vaccine if you have:
- asthma, if you use a steroid preventer inhaler or take steroid tablets
- bronchiectasis
- bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD)
- COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), including chronic bronchitis and emphysema
- cystic fibrosis
- interstitial lung diseases, such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and pneumoconioisis
- pulmonary hypertension.
You can also get a free flu vaccine if:
- you've had a lung transplant
- you're the main carer for someone with a lung condition.
If you live in England, Scotland and Wales and you're over 65 years old, you can also get a free flu vaccine. In Northern Ireland you need to be over 50 years old.
Speak to your GP, nurse or pharmacist if you're not sure if you or your child are eligible for a free flu vaccine.
If you cannot get a free flu vaccine
You can pay to get a flu vaccine from a pharmacy. Pharmacies charge different amounts, but it usually costs around £20.
If you have a lung condition, you may want to encourage your family, friends or carers to have one too, so they can help protect themselves and others.
Flu vaccines for children
Most children can get a free flu vaccine. This includes:
- children 6 months to 17 years with certain long-term health conditions. This includes asthma and other lung conditions
- children aged 2 to 3 years old on 31 August
- all children in primary school, aged 4 to 11 years old. This includes children who are home-schooled or not in mainstream education
- some secondary school aged children. Speak to your GP, nurse or pharmacist to see if your child can have the flu vaccine.
Most children will get the flu vaccine as a nasal spray. This is quick and painless.
If your child is under 2 years old, the nasal spray vaccine is not recommended. If your child cannot have the nasal spray vaccine, their GP, nurse or pharmacist might offer an injection instead.
Find out more about flu vaccines for babies and children up to 17 years old.
Flu vaccines for children with asthma
Nasal spray vaccines are not usually recommended if your child has asthma and they:
- take steroids tablets, like prednisolone
- have been in intensive care because of their asthma.
If your child has had a flare-up of their asthma symptoms three days before their vaccination, they may need to wait until they feel better before they can get their vaccine.
If you think your child may need the injected flu vaccine, speak to their GP, nurse, pharmacist or school immunisation team.
Why should I get a flu vaccine?
Flu vaccines can make a big difference to your health in winter.
Flu can be a very serious illness. If you have a lung condition and flu, you're more at risk of having an asthma attack or a flare-up of your lung condition. You're also more at risk of a chest infection.
Getting the flu vaccine is the best way to protect yourself. It can mean fewer visits to your GP or hospital, helping you stay well and reducing pressure on the NHS during flu season.
Getting a flu vaccine can also protect others by reducing the spread of flu to family, friends and people who are at high risk.
How effective are flu vaccines?
Flu vaccines help protect you against the main types of flu virus around each year.
Even if you get your flu vaccine, there's still a chance you might get flu. But if you do get flu after having the vaccine, it's usually milder and you may recover more quickly.
It's important to have a flu vaccine every year to stay protected.
Common questions about the flu vaccine
Some people worry about getting vaccines. We've answered some common questions that people with asthma and lung conditions often have:
There are different types of flu virus. These are called strains.
The strains of flu virus that are most likely to make you ill change every year. This means that the vaccines you need to protect you from flu also need to be updated.
Before each flu season, the World Health Organization (WHO) works with experts to decide which strains of flu the vaccine needs to protect us against. This helps to make the vaccine as effective as possible.
Getting the flu vaccine every year gives you the best protection against the flu strains that are spreading across the UK.
It's best to get the vaccine before the end of October to protect you before flu spreads. Flu vaccines take up to 14 days to work.
Flu usually begins to spread in the middle of November.
If you cannot get the flu vaccine in October, try and get one as soon as you can. Flu seasons last until March, so it's important to get your vaccine when you can.
If you can have a free flu vaccine, the NHS should let you know when you can book an appointment. You might get a reminder by text message, email, phone call, or letter.
If you’re aged 18 years old or over, you may also be able to get the flu vaccine at a local pharmacy. You do not usually need an appointment. A lot of pharmacies are also open in the evenings and on weekends.
Find out more about pharmacies that offer free flu vaccines.
Getting a flu vaccine is different across the UK. Find out how to get a flu vaccine in:
Most school-aged children can get their flu vaccine at school. You can also request your child’s vaccine at their GP practice or community clinic.
In England, some children aged 2 to 3 years old can get their flu vaccines at nursery or community pharmacies.
No, flu vaccines cannot give you flu.
Flu injections do not contain live flu viruses.
Nasal spray vaccines contain a small amount of weakened flu virus to build up your child’s immune system. The weakened virus is not strong enough to give your child flu.
A very small number of people with a lung condition have told us they felt unwell after the flu vaccine. Their lung condition symptoms also got worse for a short time.
This is not reflected in the clinical evidence. But if this has happened to you, speak to your GP, nurse or pharmacist about your concerns.
You can also register any side effects using the MHRA’s (Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency) Yellow Card scheme.
Flu vaccines are safe and effective. Some people get mild side effects.
After having the flu injection, you may have:
- a sore arm where the injection was given. This is more likely to happen if you’re 65 years old and over
- a slightly raised temperature
- achy muscles.
If your child has a nasal spray vaccine, they may have:
- a runny or blocked nose
- a headache
- a loss of appetite
- feel tired.
Side effects are usually mild and typically last only a day or two. Try to rest and take paracetamol, if you can, to manage side effects.
Yes, flu vaccines help to protect you against the main types of flu virus.
The flu vaccine does not protect you from colds or other respiratory viruses, such as RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) or COVID-19.
You may also be eligible for vaccines for RSV and COVID-19.
Is it safe to have the flu vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine at the same time.
The RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) vaccine is not usually given at the same time as the flu vaccine. This is because some evidence suggests that taking the RSV and flu vaccine at the same time can make them both less effective.
But it’s safe to have the vaccines at the same time if recommended by your healthcare professional. For example, healthcare professionals may recommend having the flu vaccine with the RSV vaccine if you’re pregnant.
Some flu vaccines are made with egg protein. This means that if you have an egg allergy, you may be at risk of an allergic reaction to the flu injection.
If you have an allergy to eggs, tell the person giving you the flu vaccine. They can give you a low-egg or egg-free vaccine. They’re also trained to help you if you have an allergic reaction.
It's very rare to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a flu vaccine. It happens to less than one in a million people.
Yes, there’s a small amount of pork gelatine in the nasal spray vaccine that protects children against flu. Gelatine helps to keep the vaccine stays safe and effective during storage.
You can read more about pork gelatine in vaccines here.
If your child cannot have a vaccine with gelatine in it, speak to your GP, nurse or pharmacist for advice. There are other vaccines available, including flu vaccine injections.
Flu vaccine injections do not contain pork or any pork products.
Read more guidance about the flu vaccine from the British Islamic Medical Association.
Yes, it’s safe for you to have the flu vaccine injection if you take prednisolone.
This is because flu vaccine injections do not contain any live viruses.
Prednisolone weakens your immune system, so you might not be able to take any vaccines that have live viruses in them. This includes nasal spray vaccines for children.
