Vaccinations

Flu and Covid-19 vaccinations for eligible UHNM patients

Adult patients attending University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM) for an outpatient appointment are being offered the flu and Covid-19 vaccinations if eligible.

Thanks to additional funding, UHNM can now provide these vaccines to all patients aged 18 or over with a long-term condition, as well as anyone aged 65 or over, at both Royal Stoke University Hospital and County Hospital, Stafford.

Vaccinators will be co-located with the UHNM staff vaccination team, meaning both patients and staff can be vaccinated at the same time and in the same locations.

Where and how patients can be vaccinated:

  • Outpatients:
    • Outpatients 2 or 3 at Royal Stoke, 07:45 – 20:30, with 4 cubicles staffed by vaccinators
    • Orange Area at County, 09:00 – 17:00, with 2 cubicles staffed by vaccinators
    • Volunteers will support patients who have agreed to be vaccinated to access the service
  • Inpatients:
    • Long-stay inpatients (more than 21 days) can be given a flu vaccine by a roving member of staff, requested by the managing clinician
    • Patients due to be discharged to a care home can be vaccinated before discharge.
  • Other services

 

Vaccinations are also available at community pharmacies and from GPs.

If you are eligible, please take up the offer of vaccination when you attend UHNM this winter.

Adult flu vaccine FAQs

The flu vaccine helps protect against flu, which can be a serious or life-threatening illness. It's offered on the NHS every year in autumn or early winter to people at higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu.

The flu vaccine is recommended for people at higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu. It's safe and effective.


These people can get the free NHS flu vaccine this year: 
From 1 September 2025


•    pregnant women 
•    all children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2025 
•    children with certain long-term health conditions (aged 6 months to less than 18 years) 
•    primary school-aged children (from reception to Year 6) 
•    secondary school-aged children (from Year 7 to Year 11) 
•    all children in clinical risk groups aged from 6 months to under 18 years. 

From 1 October 2025: 


•    everyone aged 65 years and over 
•    individuals aged 18 to under 65 with certain long-term health conditions 
•    care home residents 
•    carers in receipt of carer's allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person 
•    those living with people who are immunocompromised 
•    frontline health and social care workers.

The NHS National Booking System is now open for all eligible people to book flu vaccinations, with appointments starting from 1 October 2025.

Anyone eligible can book their flu vaccine through the NHS National Booking System, the NHS App or by calling 119 if you can’t get online.

You can have the NHS flu vaccine at:

Flu symptoms come on very quickly and can include:


•    a sudden high temperature
•    an aching body
•    feeling tired or exhausted
•    a dry cough
•    a sore throat
•    a headache
•    difficulty sleeping
•    loss of appetite
•    diarrhoea or tummy pain
•    feeling sick and being sick.

For more information about flu and how to treat it visit the NHS website.

If you had the flu vaccination last year, you need another one this year. Protection from flu vaccination goes down with time. Also, the flu viruses can change from one winter to the next. Flu vaccines are updated for each winter to give protection against the strains of flu that are most likely to be circulating. We strongly recommend that even if you were vaccinated last year, you should be vaccinated again this year.

If you are not eligible for the free flu vaccination, you can pay to receive the flu vaccine from a pharmacy.

No. The injected flu vaccine does not contain live viruses and cannot cause flu.

Some people may get mild side effects like a sore arm, slight fever, or aching muscles for a day or two.

No, vaccines strengthen immune response through controlled exposure.

Most people can have the flu vaccine. You should not have it if you've had a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a previous dose or an ingredient in the vaccine.

Some flu vaccines contain egg protein, so let the vaccinator know if you have an egg allergy.

There are several types of flu vaccine used in the UK. If you're eligible, you'll be offered the one best suited to you. You can check the full list of ingredients in the vaccine’s patient information leaflet.

Children’s flu programme

Yes. Around 8 million children in reception to year 11 will be offered the free nasal spray flu vaccine, delivered in schools by immunisation teams up and down the country.

Children aged 2 and 3 (on or before 31 August 2025) can get a free flu vaccine from their GP. Most will receive a quick and painless nasal spray.

If the nasal spray isn’t suitable (for medical or religious reasons), an injected flu vaccine is available instead.

Children can catch and spread flu easily. Vaccinating them also helps protect others who are at higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu, such as babies, anyone who's pregnant and older people.

Yes. Flu can lead to serious illness, hospitalisation, and in rare cases, death. In 2022/23, over 6,000 under-5s in England were hospitalised with flu.

Most children get it through their school, so parents should make sure to sign and return the consent form. For pre-schoolers, parents will be invited to bring their child forward in the coming weeks, or alternatively you can contact your GP practice to make an appointment. From 1 October 2025, flu vaccinations for 2 and 3 years olds will also be available from many community pharmacies.

The nasal spray contains weakened viruses that help build immunity. It works quickly, and even if your child sneezes after, the vaccine still works.

Children may develop a runny or blocked nose, headache, general tiredness, and some loss of appetite. However, these are much milder than developing flu or complications associated with flu. Serious side-effects are uncommon.

Some health conditions put children at higher risk of serious illness from flu, even if the condition is well managed. These include:

·         Asthma needing regular steroids

·         Heart, kidney, or liver disease

·         Diabetes

·         Weakened immune system (e.g. cancer treatment)

·         Spleen problems (e.g. sickle cell or coeliac disease)

·         Nervous system conditions (e.g. cerebral palsy)

These children should have a flu vaccine every year from age 6 months.

Children under 2 will be offered an injection, as the nasal spray isn’t suitable for them. If you're unsure whether your child needs the vaccine, speak to your GP, nurse, or health visitor.

Yes. The nasal spray contains a highly processed form of porcine (pork) gelatine, used to help the vaccine work properly.

It offers the best protection for children and helps reduce the spread of flu.

If you do not wish your child to have this due to religious or other reasons, an injected flu vaccine is available. Talk to your nurse, doctor, or immunisation team about your options.

Flu and long-term health conditions


Individuals with certain long-term health conditions are eligible for a free flu vaccine. Conditions that would make someone eligible include those with: 
•    Heart or liver disease 
•    Chronic respiratory disease 
•    Diabetes 
•    Immunosuppression (weakened immune system) 
•    Some neurological conditions (like Parkinson’s, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis (MS) or cerebral palsy) 

For more information about the flu vaccine visit the NHS website.