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This page focuses on the flu vaccine and provides resources on flu and flu vaccinations.

If you are having any difficulties accessing vaccination in your frontline care role, please contact the Advice Centre. 

Recent update (December 2025)

The ¹úÄÚ¾«Æ·ÒÁÈ˾þþþø¾ (¹úÄÚ¾«Æ·ÒÁÈ˾þþþø¾) has received increased enquiries about Healthcare Support Workers (HCSWs) and their role in vaccination programmes, particularly regarding informed consent.

Can HCSW’s administer vaccines?

HCSWs are a vital part of the workforce and support the delivery of vaccine programmes. This may include having a role in the administration of vaccines. It is essential that they are suitably trained, prepared and supported for this and work within guidance.

Can HCSW’s seek consent to vaccination and vaccine administration?

When a vaccine is prescribed, such as through a Patient Specific Direction (PSD), the prescriber is responsible for obtaining informed consent for vaccination. (General Medical Council 2021; Nursing and Midwifery Council 2025).

The prescriber's responsibility under a PSD is to:

• Seek informed consent when prescribing vaccines
• Ensure the patient understands the risks and benefits of the vaccine by sharing information on the vaccine and addressing any queries
• Obtain consent verbally, via an electronic system such as Accurx, or using a written consent form
• Documenting the consent process in patient records.

Although healthcare support workers and other non-registered staff are not permitted to obtain informed consent for vaccination, they should still confirm the individual’s agreement to receive the vaccine, provided that informed consent has already been obtained by the appropriate registered healthcare professional.

Further reading

• . The UKHSA provides guidance in chapter 2 of the green book based both on the current legal position and the standards expected of health professionals by their regulatory bodies, in relation to consent. 
• . This document sets the standards and lists the essential topics which should be incorporated into immunisation training.
• . NHS England provides a useful table summarising legal mechanisms which enable administration of Covid-19 and influenza vaccines. This includes information on who can carry out the clinical assessment and consent and who can carry out administration of the vaccine.

References

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• .

Influenza vaccination 2025-26 

The flu immunisation programme in the UK is based on recommendations by the , an independent expert advisory committee which advises all UK health departments on vaccination and immunisation programmes.

The guidance is available in the UK via the Government's , and in Chapter 19 of . 

Vaccine types 

Vaccine types are recommended by the JCVI for use as part of the NHS Annual Influenza Vaccination Programme. The choice of which vaccine to use is advised by the JCVI, see: . 

Eligibility 

The flu vaccine is recommended for the following eligible groups across the UK for the 2025-2026 flu season:

• Adults 65 years of age and over
• At-risk adults 18 to 64 years of age (including pregnant women)
• Children aged 2 to less than 18 years of age
• Children less than 2 years of age in at-risk groups

See the for full details on eligible groups. Eligibility for vaccination may differ across the UK countries. Please see the respective annual flu letters:

• England: 
• Northern Ireland:  (PDF)
• Scotland: 
• Wales: National influenza immunisation programme 2025 to 2026 (WHC/2024/028)

Health and social care workers

Health care workers have a responsibility to protect their patients and for nurses this is detailed in the . Flu vaccination for health care workers helps to stop the transmission of the flu virus and is fully supported by professional bodies including the ¹úÄÚ¾«Æ·ÒÁÈ˾þþþø¾ and the .

Having a flu vaccine annually remains the best way to protect against catching or spreading flu. We recommend that all members with direct patient care (including students on placement) are fully vaccinated against flu to reduce the risks of spreading the infection to the people they care for. See: ¹úÄÚ¾«Æ·ÒÁÈ˾þþþø¾ position on health care staff and the influenza vaccine.

General guidance

• Flu campaign resources: , , and

Immunisation training

England 

• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE): 
• UKHSA: 
• NHS England: . NHS England e-learning for health care (NHSE elfh) works with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) each year to update the Flu Immunisation elearning programme to ensure it is up-to-date for the forthcoming flu season.  

Scotland

• NHS Education for Scotland: 
• NHS Education for Scotland: 

Wales

• Public Health Wales: 

Northern Ireland

• HSC Public Health Agency: 

Country specific guidance

England

• UKHSA: 
• NHS England: 
• NHS: 
• UKHSA: 
• GOV.UK: 

Northern Ireland

• Public Health Agency: 
• HSC Public Health Agency: 

Scotland

• Public Health Scotland: 
• Public Health Scotland: 

Wales

• Public Health Wales: 
• Public Health Wales: 
• Public Health Wales: 
• Public Health Wales: