Vaccination
Training the immune system to recognise a pathogen without having to survive the disease first.
Last revised
Key takeaways
- Flu vaccine: annually; reformulated each year as the virus changes
- Eligible for free flu vaccine: over 65, pregnant women, young children, long-term conditions, carers
- Most useful single change: Take up every vaccine you are offered.
- Commonest mistake: Assuming previous vaccination covers you indefinitely.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to get help" below apply to you.
Why it matters
It is the only intervention producing specific, durable protection against a named infection, and uptake rather than availability is usually the limit.
The numbers, in one place
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Flu vaccine | annually; reformulated each year as the virus changes |
| Eligible for free flu vaccine | over 65, pregnant women, young children, long-term conditions, carers |
| Pneumococcal vaccine | usually a single dose at 65 |
| Shingles and RSV vaccines | offered to older adults; eligibility changes |
| Childhood schedule | begins at 8 weeks |
What helps
- Take up every vaccine you are offered
- Have the flu vaccine annually; last year's does not carry over
- Check the childhood schedule is up to date, including catch-up
- Ask a pharmacist, who can give many vaccines without an appointment
What to avoid
- Assuming previous vaccination covers you indefinitely
- Delaying travel vaccines, which often need lead time
- Missing catch-up opportunities for HPV and MMR into adulthood
Where to go next
- Vaccination: The Questions People Actually Ask
- Vaccination: Just the Figures
- Colds and Flu: What Published Guidance Supports
- The Evidence on Antibiotics, Without the Hype
When to get help
Call 999 for swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, difficulty breathing, a widespread rash with faintness, or collapse after any vaccination — this is anaphylaxis and is rare but immediate. Tell the vaccinator about allergies, immunosuppression, pregnancy, or a bleeding disorder beforehand.
Where this comes from
- UK Health Security Agency — vaccination schedules
- NHS — NHS vaccinations and when to have them
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.