2026/2027 Winter Private Flu JAB Vaccination Service

The 2026/2027 Winter Private Flu Jab Service from Ways Pharmacy is a single-dose, pharmacist-administered seasonal influenza vaccination, available at our Holborn (London) and Beeston (Nottingham) branches. Choose between two trivalent vaccines for the 2026/27 season — an egg-free cell-based vaccine (available from mid-October 2026) or the egg-cultured Vaxigrip (available from November 2026). Book now to reserve your slot; the NHS route is also offered free to eligible groups.

Which flu jab should I choose?

Key facts

Who the flu jab is for

• Adults aged 18 to 64 who want seasonal protection but are not in an NHS-eligible group (private route — either vaccine)
• Adults aged 65 and over who prefer a private appointment (choose the cell-based vaccine), or turning 65 by 31 March 2027 (free under NHS)
• Pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy (free under NHS)
• Adults 18+ in clinical risk groups: diabetes, chronic heart, lung, kidney or liver disease, immunosuppression, asthma requiring steroid inhalers, neurological conditions (free under NHS)
• Carers receiving Carer's Allowance, household contacts of immunocompromised people, frontline health and social care staff (free under NHS)

Not suitable for: people with a confirmed severe allergy to a previous flu vaccine or any vaccine component; people who are acutely unwell with fever on the day (postpone until recovered). Egg allergy is usually not a contraindication for Vaxigrip, and the cell-based vaccine is egg-free — the pharmacist will check.

How the service works

1. Choose your vaccine and pay online, then call to book a slot:
   Holborn London: 020 8106 7084 (Mon–Fri, 10:00–16:00)
   Beeston Nottingham: 0115 925 5584 (Mon–Fri, 13:00–16:00)
   Walk-ins are welcome once stock has arrived.
2. Cell-based vaccine appointments start from mid-October 2026; Vaxigrip appointments start from November 2026. We will contact you if delivery dates change.
3. On arrival the pharmacist confirms NHS eligibility — if you qualify, the vaccine is delivered free under the NHS PGD and your private payment is refunded.
4. If you are not NHS-eligible, the private route is used.
5. Receive the single 0.5 ml injection into the upper arm. Protection builds over the next 2 to 3 weeks.

Frequently asked questions

What is different about the 2026/27 flu vaccines?

All three strains have changed from last season and every UK flu vaccine is trivalent. The other big change is that the cell-based vaccine is now recommended by the JCVI as equivalent to the adjuvanted, high-dose and recombinant vaccines for people aged 65 and over — so if you are 65+ and want a private jab, choose the cell-based option. The egg-cultured Vaxigrip is not advised for 65+.

Which vaccine should I pick?

If you are 65 or over, have an egg allergy, or simply want the earliest appointment, choose the cell-based vaccine (from mid-October). If you are a healthy adult aged 18 to 64 and happy to wait until November, Vaxigrip is the lower-cost option. Both are single-dose, trivalent and made to the same WHO-recommended strains.

Who is eligible for the free NHS flu jab?

For 2026/27 the NHS provides a free flu jab to: adults aged 65 and over (including anyone turning 65 by 31 March 2027), pregnant women, adults aged 18+ in defined clinical risk groups (e.g. diabetes, COPD, heart disease, immunosuppression, asthma on steroid inhalers), people living with immunocompromised individuals, carers receiving Carer's Allowance, frontline health and social care staff, and long-stay residential care patients. We check eligibility at booking and switch you to the NHS route automatically if you qualify.

Is the private flu jab the same vaccine as the NHS one?

Yes. The cell-based trivalent vaccine is one of the vaccines the NHS uses this season for all adult groups, including those aged 65 and over. Vaxigrip is the egg-cultured type the NHS uses for under-65s when preferred vaccines are unavailable. The private route is simply for people who do not fall into an NHS-eligible group, or who prefer to book privately.

Can I get the flu jab if I am pregnant?

Yes — and it is strongly recommended at any stage of pregnancy. Flu in pregnancy carries a higher risk of complications for both mother and baby, and vaccination during pregnancy also gives the newborn protection in the first months of life. Pregnant women are eligible for the free NHS flu jab.

Can I have the flu jab at the same time as the COVID or HPV vaccine?

Yes. The inactivated flu vaccine can be co-administered with most other vaccines, including COVID-19 boosters, HPV (Gardasil 9) and Shingrix, at different injection sites. Tell the pharmacist about any vaccines you have had recently or plan to have.

How long does the flu jab take to work?

It takes about 2 to 3 weeks for protective antibody levels to develop. Aim to get vaccinated in autumn — ideally October to November — to be fully protected when influenza circulation peaks from December onwards.

What is the refund policy for the private flu jab?

If you cancel before the appointment or are switched to the NHS route on eligibility, we refund the amount minus a £10 admin fee. If we cannot supply your chosen vaccine this season, you receive a full refund. Refunds are processed back to your original payment method within 5 working days.

Safety

• Administered by a GPhC-registered pharmacist under the latest Patient Group Direction (PGD)
• Clinical screening on the day to confirm suitability
• 15-minute observation period after injection
• Common side effects (sore arm, mild fever, headache, tiredness, muscle ache) usually settle within 1 to 2 days
• Anaphylaxis recognition and emergency care available on site

References

• NHS — Flu vaccine overview
• JCVI — Statement on influenza vaccines for 2026 to 2027
• UK Health Security Agency — Influenza vaccines marketed in the UK
• WHO — 2026/27 northern hemisphere vaccine composition

* Subject to availability and PGD inclusion criteria. Delivery dates are supplier estimates (cell-based: mid-October 2026; Vaxigrip: November 2026). NHS eligibility is checked at booking. This is a private service for those not eligible for the free NHS flu jab.