Seasonal flu vaccinations

Flu can be very serious and having a flu vaccine every year is one of the best ways to protect against flu.

It is caused by a virus which is spread by coughs and sneezes. Symptoms of flu can be mild but can also lead to more serious illnesses such as bronchitis and pneumonia, which may need treatment in hospital.

The flu nasal spray vaccine for children and young people will start in September. Those aged 2 and 3 years old will predominantly have their vaccines in GP surgeries, while primary and secondary children will be invited for theirs in school.  

The rollout of the flu vaccine in adults will start in October. 

If you have any questions about the vaccine or your eligibility, please do not hesitate to contact the health board on 0300 303 8322 or by emailing ask.hdd@wales.nhs.uk and we’ll be happy to advise you.

Here’s a list of who is eligible this autumn and winter: 

Flu vaccination 

• Children aged two and three years on 31 August, 2024   

• Children in primary school from reception class to year 6 (inclusive)    

• Children in secondary school from year 7 to year 11 (inclusive)     

• People aged six months to 64 years in clinical risk groups     

• People aged 65 years and older (age on 31 March, 2024)     

• Pregnant women    

• Carers aged 16 and over   

• People aged 6 months to 65 years who live with someone who has a weakened immune system     

• People with a learning disability    

• Frontline health and social care workers    

• All staff working in care homes with regular client contact  

NHS staff

If you have regular patient contact, you are eligible for both the seasonal flu and autumn COVID-19 vaccine. We strongly advise eligible staff to receive their vaccines as early as possible.

Flu vaccinations for staff will be available in several ways to help make it as accessible as possible.

Have you received your flu or COVID-19 vaccine from your GP?

If you work for Hywel Dda UHB and have received your flu and/or COVID-19 vaccine at your GP practice or community pharmacy, please ensure you inform occupational health as soon as possible so your staff record can be updated accordingly. 
 

Care home and social care workers

Flu vaccination for care home and social care staff directly working with people clinically vulnerable to flu, as well as carers, is strongly encouraged.

You should be provided access to the flu vaccine by your employer, however you may also be eligible for a free flu vaccine under the NHS complementary scheme if your employer does not provide a flu vaccination scheme.

Your employer can support you in ensuring that you receive a flu vaccination. They may do this by arranging for you to be vaccinated at your place of work or by arranging for you to be vaccinated off-site. Your employer should let you know which scheme they are running, or, where applicable, advise you to use the NHS complementary scheme. If not, please ask them.