At risk will include patients who are in the following priority groups:
- You are pregnant
- You are aged 50 or over
- You are aged six months to 49 years and have a long-term health condition that puts you at increased risk from flu,
including but not limited to:
- Diabetes
- A heart problem
- A chest complaint or breathing difficulties, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma that requires regular steroid inhalers or tablets
- Kidney disease (from stage 3)
- Lowered immunity due to disease or treatment (and also close contacts of people in this group)
- Liver disease
- Had a stroke or mini-stroke
- A neurological condition like Parkinson’s disease, or motor neurone disease
- A missing spleen or a problem with it
- Learning disability
- Severe mental illness
- Morbidly obese (class III obesity). This is defined as those with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or above, aged 16 or over.
- Epilepsy
- You live in a care home
- You are homeless
The following groups are also advised to have a flu vaccine to protect them and the people around them:
- People working directly with patients/clients in health or social care
- First responders and members of voluntary organisations providing planned emergency first aid
- Those who live with someone who has a compromised immune system