Please read our COVID‑19 safety guidance here. There should be gap of at least 7 days between a COVID‑19 vaccination and any other vaccination.
Winter Flu Jab Service
Help protect yourself against flu
We offer the free NHS flu jab* in most of our stores in England and Wales, and in some stores in Scotland. If you’re not eligible for the NHS jab, but still want to protect yourself against flu, our private Winter Flu Jab Service** is available in most Boots pharmacies across the UK for people aged 16 and over, and in selected stores for children aged 12 to 15.
Benefits of the service
- Convenient: Get a flu jab without having to visit your GP
- Accessible: Many of our pharmacies are open seven days a week, including evenings
- Flexible: Book your appointment at a time and place that works for you
*Subject to availability. NHS eligibility criteria apply
**Subject to availability. Eligibility criteria apply. Injectable vaccination only for all ages. £13.99.
How it works
Step one
Answer a few simple questionsTo help us check which flu jab service is right for you***
Step two
Book your appointment onlineFree for the NHS flu jab* or £13.99 for our private service
Step three
Go to store for your appointmentReceive your vaccination after a chat with the pharmacist
How long will my appointment take?
The in-store appointment will take around 15 minutes.
***Some people booking for the private service will also be asked to complete a short online consultation, which will be reviewed by a prescribing clinician
Why should I get the flu jab every year?
The best way to help protect yourself and others from catching and spreading flu is to have the flu jab every year. Flu strains can change from year to year, which means last year’s jab may not protect you from this year’s strains. Over time, protection from the flu jab gradually decreases, so this is another reason to keep up to date and get your flu jab every year.
How effective is the flu vaccine?
No vaccine is 100 percent effective but being vaccinated helps protect you against the strains of flu virus contained in the vaccination. This includes swine flu. After your jab, it usually takes around 14-21 days to be protected against flu.
Learn more about the vaccination
At your appointment, one of our pharmacists will inject the vaccine into your upper arm. As with all medicines, there may be some side effects. The most common side effects include:
- Redness, soreness or bruising at the injection site
- A high temperature, sweating, shivering or feeling unwell
- Headaches, fatigue or dizziness
- Muscle and joint pain
If you experience any of these, don't worry, they're usually mild and should disappear on their own in a day or two.
Learn moreThe free NHS flu jab at Boots
The flu jab is available every year on the NHS to help protect adults and children at risk of flu and its complications. We may be able to provide your free NHS jab if you’re aged 65 and over (or will turn 65 by 31st March 2021), or if you’re aged 18 or over and you:
Read More- Are on the Covid-19 shielded patient list or you are a household member of someone who is
- Are aged 50 – 64 (may be available later in the year, private service available now)^
- Are pregnant
- Have diabetes
- Have asthma (treated with a preventer inhaler), COPD or other long-term lung condition
- Have a long-term heart condition
- Have kidney or liver disease
- Have a neurological condition such as Parkinson’s disease
- Have a learning disability
- Have (or live with someone who has) a weakened immune system due to a medical condition, medication or treatment
- Are severely overweight with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or more
- Care for someone whose welfare may be at risk if you’re ill
- Are a frontline health or social care worker working in a residential or nursing home, a hospice or with a home care provider
- Are a resident of a nursing or long-stay residential home
We offer the free NHS flu jab in most of our stores in England and Wales, and in some stores in Scotland*. If you live in Northern Ireland, you can get the free NHS flu jab through your GP if you’re eligible.
In Northern Ireland, frontline Health and Social Care workers can book a free flu jab appointment in most Boots pharmacies. Please contact your local Boots pharmacy to book an appointment.
Boots Private Winter Flu Jab Service
Don’t forget, if you aren’t eligible for the free NHS flu jab, our private Winter Flu Jab Service** is available for customers aged 16 and over in most Boots pharmacies across the UK, and in selected stores for children aged 12 to 15. It’s a simple and convenient way to help protect against flu.
Our private Winter Flu Jab Service costs £13.99.
Collect 4 points for every £1 you spend with Boots Advantage Card*Subject to availability. NHS eligibility criteria apply
**Subject to availability. Eligibility criteria apply. Injectable vaccination only for all ages. £13.99.
^It has been announced that a free NHS flu jab might be offered under the NHS flu vaccination programme in England, Wales and Scotland to people aged between 50-64 years, following prioritisation of other eligible groups and subject to vaccine supply. There is no date announced for this to start but it will be later in the flu season (such as November time), once vaccination of the most ‘at-risk’ groups is well underway. If you’re in this age group, you can receive your vaccination early in the season by booking and paying for it through our private service.
Before You Book
Make sure you've read:
All the information on this page
Our Patient Guide to online consultation services
If you have any more questions, please read our FAQs here.
Patient Survey
We asked our patients what they thought about our online consultation services. Find out what they had to say:
Results of the latest England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland patient survey
The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) regulates Boots UK Limited to provide care for patients in Northern Ireland.
How we use your personal data
To enable us to give you the best and most appropriate care and advice, we collect your personal data such as name, address and date of birth, we also collect your more sensitive personal data regarding your health for the purposes of ensuring the service we provide is appropriate for you.
We may also process your personal data for carefully considered and specific purposes which are in our interest and enable us to enhance the services we provide, but which we believe also benefit our customers. Your personal data will be stored for as long as necessary unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law.
We may share your personal information across Boots services such as Boots Pharmacy and with other companies that provide services on our behalf but we assure you that Boots will never sell your personal data. We are committed to safeguarding your privacy and keeping your personal data safe and secure is our top priority.
For more information about who we may share your data with, how Boots process your data and how to amend or remove your data please see our privacy policy or contact Boots.CustomerCare_Team@boots.co.uk
Help protect yourself from pneumonia
Pneumonia is a serious chest infection that’s most common in autumn and winter. If you’re 18 or over, you may also want to consider our Pneumonia Vaccination Service†. To make things easier, some of our pharmacies can offer this service at the same time as your flu jab. Find out more about the private Boots Pneumonia Vaccination Service.
†Most Boots pharmacies, subject to availability. Eligibility criteria and charges apply
Pneumonia Vaccination Service
Learn more
Corporate Flu Vaccination Service
Learn more
Cold & flu products
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