2025/2026 Winter Private Flu JAB Vaccination Service

The 2025/2026 Winter Private Flu Jab Service from Ways Pharmacy is a single-dose, pharmacist-administered seasonal influenza vaccination using an inactivated trivalent vaccine (TIVe), available at our Holborn (London) and Beeston (Nottingham) branches for adults aged 18 to 65 and pregnant women, with the NHS route also offered free to eligible groups.

Key facts

Who the flu jab is for

• Adults aged 18 to 65 who want seasonal protection but are not in an NHS-eligible group (private route)
• Adults aged 65 and over, or turning 65 by 31 March 2026 (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 — the pharmacist will check.

How the service works

1. Walk-in during service hours, or pay online and 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)
2. 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.
3. If you are not NHS-eligible, the private route is used.
4. Receive the single 0.5 ml injection into the upper arm. Protection builds over the next 2 to 3 weeks.

Frequently asked questions

Who is eligible for the free NHS flu jab?

For 2025/26 the NHS provides a free flu jab to: adults aged 65 and over (including anyone turning 65 by 31 March 2026), 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?

It is the same class of vaccine — an inactivated trivalent influenza vaccine (TIVe) made to the 2025/26 strain composition recommended by WHO. The private route is offered to people who do not fall into an NHS-eligible group (mainly healthy adults aged 18 to 64).

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 September 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. 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
• UK Health Security Agency — Annual flu programme

* Subject to availability and PGD inclusion criteria. NHS eligibility is checked at booking. This is a private service for those not eligible for the free NHS flu jab.