Most* eligible people won’t be offered NHS flu jabs until 3rd October this year, NHS England has decided.
In previous years, flu vaccinations have been offered from September.

The change in the timing follows clinical advice from the Government’s independent clinical advisors, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, that starting later would be better for patients.

This is because the positive effect of the flu vaccine – increasing people’s protection from flu viruses – reduces over time following the vaccination.

Getting the vaccination at a slightly later time will make it more likely that the person’s immune response to the virus is higher when flu virus levels are at their highest.