Flu vaccines 2025/26

Why Should I Get the Flu Vaccine?

The flu vaccine is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself and others from the flu. Here’s why it’s important:

1. Prevent the Flu
The flu vaccine helps your immune system recognize and fight off the flu virus, reducing your chances of getting sick. Even if you do catch the flu, the vaccine can make your symptoms milder and help you recover more quickly.

2. Protect Vulnerable People
Certain groups are at higher risk of severe flu complications, including young children, older adults, pregnant women, and individuals with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes, or heart disease. Get vaccinated to help to protect these vulnerable individuals by reducing the spread of the virus.

3. Reduce the Spread of the Flu
The flu is highly contagious and spreads easily. Get vaccinated to lower your chances of passing the virus to others and help to keep your family, friends, and community safe.

4. Avoid Severe Complications
The flu can lead to serious health issues like pneumonia or hospitalization, especially for high-risk individuals. Get vaccinated to significantly reduce the risk of these severe outcomes and keep you healthy.

5. Protect NHS Resources
Reduce your risk of catching the flu to help to ease the pressure on NHS services, especially during winter when demand is high. This will allow the NHS to use it’s resources to help other patients in need.

6. Community Immunity
When more people are vaccinated, it reduces the overall spread of the flu. This creates “herd immunity,” protecting those who can’t get vaccinated, such as newborns and people with certain medical conditions.

7. Updated Protection Every Year
Flu viruses change over time, so the vaccine is updated annually to protect against the most common strains. Get the flu vaccine every year to maintain the best protection.

NHS vaccination (over 65s, medically eligible adults and children aged 2 or 3yrs old) *FREE*
Private – Age 18-64 (not eligible for an NHS vaccine) (*see T&Cs below)

Who is Eligible for a Free Flu Vaccine?
In the UK, the flu vaccine is available for free through the NHS, from 1st October, for those who are at higher risk of serious complications. You may be eligible for a free flu vaccine if you fall into any of the following categories:

  • Children aged 2 and 3 years on 31 August 2026 can book into the pharmacy by using the National Booking System portal or calling or, you can come to one of our Walk in sessions. Keep checking in for publication of dates for these. We are reliant on NHS vaccine supply to able to open walk in sessions.
  • School-aged children from Reception to Year 11 will be offered vaccination in school. You will need to complete an online permission form prior to the appointment date. The link for this will be emailed to you prior to your child’s school’s clinic date(s).
    • ***NEW FOR THIS YEAR***: Monkbar Pharmacy can vaccinate any school aged child, including any home educated children, where they miss the vaccination date or clinic dates or these are not suitable for them. Appointments for this will be offered from 1st December and can be booked through the National Booking System. *Please note that we are not permitted to provide an NHS vaccination for any school aged child prior to 1st December for any reason. We sometimes have private vaccination options for children available but these depend upon vaccine availability.*
  • You are aged 65 and over.
  • You are pregnant (you can get your free NHS flu vaccine from 1st September subject to vaccine availability).
  • You have certain medical conditions (such as chronic respiratory disease, heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, neurological conditions, diabetes, or weakened immune systems).
  • You are living a in long-stay residential care home or other long-stay care facilities.
  • You are a carer: If you are the main carer for an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if you fall ill, you can get vaccinated for free.
  • If you are a Frontline health or social care worker, you should get vaccinated and your employer should arrange for this to be available to you for free.
  • You have an eligible learning disability.
  • You live with someone who is severely immunocompromised.

Where to Get the Flu Vaccine

  • You can receive your NHS vaccine for FREE at Monkbar Pharmacy if:
    • you are 18 yrs or older and meet one of the criteria above;
    • you are a child aged 2 or 3 years old on 31st August 2026 AND;
    • NEW FOR THIS YEAR: all school aged children up to Yr 11. Appointments available from 1st December.
  • School Aged Children will usually receive the nasal flu vaccine through their school or a local catch up clinic BUT now, NEW THIS YEAR, can also receive the vaccine (nasal or injected where appropriate) from Monkbar Pharmacy from 1st December.

If you are not eligible for a free vaccine through the NHS, you can still get vaccinated by booking a private flu vaccine at Monkbar Pharmacy.

Please note: due to national vaccine availability issues this year, 26/27, the best value private vaccine is not expected to be in stock until early November (appointments will be made available only once we receive a confirmed delivery date for the vaccine).

Monkbar Pharmacy has worked hard to obtain an alternative vaccine for those not entitled to an NHS vaccination. We expect this to be available from mid September. Unfortunately, this vaccine is more expensive and so private vaccinations booked before early November will cost £30. Good news: this earlier vaccination is entirely EGG FREE and so suitable for anyone with an egg allergy.

Any appointments booked when the value stock is available will cost £20. Monkbar Pharmacy will NOT be able to refund the difference in cost for a vaccination booking made and paid for earlier in the season but then rescheduled to after the value stock is available.

Take action to protect yourself and those around you from the flu by getting vaccinated, whether through our free NHS service or our private vaccination service.

We recommend getting vaccinated, where possible, during the month of October for best coverage throughout the flu season BUT, there is still great benefit where vaccinations are received at any point during the autumn/winter season.

Between our team of registered pharmacy professionals, we have decades of experience in providing flu vaccinations. We aim to make the experience as totally stress-free as possible and are very accommodating and patient with those that have a fear of injections.

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Terms and Conditions for Private (paid for) flu vaccination at Monkbar Pharmacy*

We understand schedules can change and unforeseen circumstances can arise. To ensure we can accommodate all of our clients, we kindly request adherence to our cancellation policy.

  1. Cancellations

Clients must notify us of cancellations or appointment changes at least 24 hours in advance.

To cancel or reschedule, please login to your client portal or email clinic@monkbarpharmacy.co.uk.

Please note that cancellations for the flu vaccination service are NOT refundable. This is applicable however much notice is given due to cover the staffing and vaccine costs. If you re-arrange your appointment you with more than 24hrs notice you will not be required to pay an additional fee.

Please ensure that there is no reason for you to be declined the vaccine. If you are not able to receive the vaccine (i.e. under 18yrs, you have already had a flu vaccination this season, you have ever had a serious reaction to any vaccination or have ever been told that you should not receive the vaccination, you are very unwell with a fever – please note that mild/moderate cold symptoms are not a reason for vaccination to be declined), the appointment fee will NOT be refundable.

  1. Late Rescheduling 

Appointments rescheduled less than 24 hours before the appointment time will not be refundable.

This fee compensates our team for the time that was set aside specifically for you and minimises any losses from the cost of this vaccine.

  1. No-shows

Failing to show up for your scheduled appointment without prior notification will result in a 100% charge of the scheduled service cost.

Repeat no-shows may result in having to prepay in full for future services or lead to an inability to book future appointments.

  1. Late Arrivals

We understand delays can happen, however, if our clinicians feel that there is no longer time to safely provide the service to you in the remaining time, you may be asked to reschedule. Our clinician’s decision on this is final. We may decide to treat tardiness as a late cancellation and apply the applicable fee. This ensures we can provide the best and safest service to you and our other clients.

  1. Exceptions

We recognise emergencies and special circumstances can occur. Exceptions to our policy are made on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of Monkbar Pharmacy management.

  1. Refunds

Cancellation fees and deposits are non-refundable unless your appointment has been re-scheduled with more than 24 hours notice. All requests for refunds must be submitted in writing to contact@monkbarpharmacy.co.uk. All requests will be considered within 4 weeks of receipt.

Contacting Us

For any questions about this policy or to make any changes to your appointment, please reach out to us at contact@monkbarpharmacy.co.uk.

By booking an appointment, you acknowledge and agree to our cancellation policy. This policy allows us to manage our schedule and provide the best service to all clients.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.

Thank you for choosing Monkbar Pharmacy

*Please note this does NOT apply to vaccinations booked for under the NHS service

Contact Monkbar Pharmacy

To enquire about any of our services, please contact us on 01904 626181 or fill in the form below and a member of the team will contact you.

Privacy Policy: All details provided will be treated in the strictest confidence and NEVER passed on to any third parties.

Our Services

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