ELIGIBLE PATIENTS –

INFLUENZA

The following groups are eligible to receive flu vaccine without charge in 2024/25:

• All children aged 2-12 years at the time of vaccination

• Persons aged 65 and older

• Pregnant women (at any stage of pregnancy)

• Those aged 6 to 23 months and aged 13-64 years with:

o Chronic heart disease including acute coronary syndrome

o Chronic liver disease

o Chronic neurological disease including multiple sclerosis, hereditary and degenerative disorders of the central nervous system

o Chronic renal failure

o Cancer patients

o Chronic respiratory disease, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, moderate or severe asthma or bronchopulmonary dysplasia

o Diabetes mellitus

o Down syndrome

o Haemoglobinopathies

o Immunosuppression due to disease or treatment, including asplenia or splenic dysfunction and cancer patients

o Morbid obesity, i.e. body mass index of 40 or over

o On long‐term aspirin therapy (because of the risk of Reyes syndrome)

o With any condition (e.g. cognitive dysfunction, spinal cord injury, seizure disorder, or other neuromuscular disorder) that can compromise respiratory function especially those attending special schools/day centres

o With moderate to severe neurodevelopmental disorders such as cerebral palsy and intellectual disability

• Healthcare workers including all General Practice and pharmacy staff

• Residents of nursing homes and other long stay institutions

• Carers and household contacts of people with increased medical risk

• People with regular contact with pigs, poultry or water fowl