Appointments available to book now with our Practice Team – call 0191 2641014.
Every appointment at the practice strengthens your GP surgery.
Who is eligible for the flu vaccine this year?
The NHS recommends flu vaccination for several groups:
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
If you’re unsure whether you’re able to have a free vaccination you can contact us on 0191 264 1014. If you’re pregnant you can also consult your midwife.
Flu can be particularly dangerous for certain groups, including pregnant women, young children, and those with certain long-term health conditions. The vaccines can’t be used to prevent flu in babies under 6 months, which is why it is so important that pregnant women have the vaccination. Women will pass on some immunity to their baby, protecting the child during the early months of their life. The flu vaccine can be given at any stage of your pregnancy, but it’s best to get vaccinated as soon as you can.
How and when can I get a flu vaccination?
If you are eligible for a flu vaccination, we will invite you to book an appointment, either using a booking link or by calling us on 0191 264 1014.
The vaccination programme starts at different times for different groups. From 1 September 2025, pregnant women can receive the vaccine as the flu vaccine in pregnancy offers the baby some protection in the first few months of life. All eligible children can also receive a vaccination from 1 September as the protection from the flu vaccine lasts much longer in children, and earlier protection can help reduce transmission to the wider population. This includes those aged 2 and 3 years, primary and secondary school children, and children in clinical risk groups. Primary and secondary school children will be offered vaccination through school vaccination programme.
For most adults, appointments will be available from 1 October 2025. The vaccine is offered from October for these groups because flu typically peaks in December or January, and getting vaccinated from October will provide optimal protection during the highest risk period.
The best time to get your flu jab is in the autumn or early winter, before flu starts circulating widely. However, if you miss this window, it’s still beneficial to get vaccinated later in the season as we can see late flu activity.