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Flu vaccinations 2023-2024

Below you can find information on the influenza (flu) vaccination programme for 2023-2024.

Please see the RCN guidance for mass vaccination and the RCN Immunisation resource for useful advice and guidance. See also the RCN advice on COVID-19 and on the COVID-19 vaccination. 

This information is focused on the flu vaccine and provides authoritative resources on flu and flu vaccinations. 

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

Influenza vaccination 2023-2024 

The flu immunisation programme in the UK is based on recommendations by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), an independent expert advisory committee that advises all UK health departments on vaccination and immunisation programmes. The guidance is available in the UK via the Government's Immunisation against infectious disease document, and in Chapter 19 of The Green Book. 

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 advised by the JCVI, see: JCVI advice (PDF) and annual flu letters below. 

Eligibility 

The flu vaccine is recommended for the following eligible groups across the UK for the 2023-2024 flu season:

  • aged 2 and 3 years on 31 August 2023
  • eligible school aged children (Reception to Year 11)
  • those aged 6 months to under 65 years in clinical risk groups
  • pregnant women
  • all those aged 65 years and over
  • those in long-stay residential care homes
  • carers, those in receipt of carer’s allowance or main carer of an older or disabled person
  • household contacts of immunocompromised individuals
  • frontline health and social care staff.

See the Green Book Influenza chapter 19 for full details on eligible groups. Eligibility for vaccination may differ across the UK countries. Please see the respective annual flu letters:

Health and social care workers

Health care workers have a responsibility to protect their patients and for nurses this is enshrined in the NMC Code. Flu vaccination for health care workers helps to stop the transmission of the flu virus and is fully supported by professional bodies like the RCN and the British Medical Association (BMA).

Having a flu vaccine annually remains the best way to protect against catching or spreading flu. The RCN recommends 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: RCN position on health care staff and the influenza vaccine.

Guidance is available from the Specialist Pharmacy Services (SPS) on authorisation for administration of the flu vaccine for health care staff. 

General guidance

Immunisation training

England and Wales

The RCN endorsed National Minimum Standards and Core Curriculum for Immunisation Training for Registered Healthcare Practitioners is now within the UKHSA are applicable in England and Wales. The principles outlined in the standards may provide immunisers with some useful guidance and may be of use for those in Scotland and Northern Ireland as well.

Other useful resources include:

Scotland

Wales

Northern Ireland

Country specific guidance

England

Northern Ireland

Scotland

Wales

Further resources

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Page last updated - 05/01/2024

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