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Walk in or pre-book
Most patients walk in — no appointment needed, Monday to Saturday. Pre-booking guarantees a 10-minute slot during peak weeks (October–November).
NHS Flu Programme
This year's flu jab, in 10 minutes.
Free 2026/27 NHS flu jab for eligible adults — just walk in, no appointment needed. We're 2 minutes from Borough station and 8 from London Bridge. Not eligible? Private flu jabs are available too.
- Free if eligibleCost (NHS)
- About 10 minutesVisit time
- Once per seasonFrequency
Why get the flu jab?
Flu is more than a heavy cold. For the elderly, pregnant patients, and people with long-term conditions, it can mean weeks off work, hospital admission, or worse — UK winters typically see thousands of flu-related hospitalisations and several thousand deaths every year. The annual flu jab is the single most effective protection.
Each year's vaccine is reformulated to match the strains the World Health Organization expects to circulate that winter — so even if you had a flu jab last year, you need a fresh one. The 2026/27 NHS programme is running now and closes on 31 March 2027, but late October and November is the time to come in: protection takes around two weeks to build, and flu usually peaks in December and January.
At Qrystal Pharmacy you can walk in without an appointment and usually be in and out within 10 minutes — handy on the way to or from Borough or London Bridge station. We administer the jab, observe you for 5 minutes after, and send the record to your GP automatically.
Who is eligible for a free NHS flu jab?
For the 2026/27 season, the free NHS flu jab is available to:
- Adults aged 65 and over, including those turning 65 by 31 March 2027
- Adults aged 18–64 with an eligible long-term condition, such as asthma, COPD, diabetes, heart, kidney or liver disease, or a BMI of 40 or above
- Pregnant patients, at any stage of pregnancy
- Care home residents
- Main carers of an older or disabled person, and people receiving Carer's Allowance
- People who live with someone who has a weakened immune system
- Frontline social-care workers who can't get vaccinated through their employer
You're not eligible if:
- Adults outside the eligible groups — private flu jabs are available; please ask us for pricing
- Children — NHS children's flu vaccines are given by nasal spray at the GP practice (ages 2–3) or through the school programme
How your flu jab visit works
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Consent and screening
We confirm eligibility, review allergies and current medicines, and explain side effects. You'll sign a brief consent form.
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Administer the jab
A small injection into the upper arm — most patients say it's barely noticeable. The whole appointment is around 10 minutes including paperwork.
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Post-jab care
Stay in-store for 5 minutes so we can monitor for the rare immediate reaction. We update your GP and NHS record electronically.
What's included
- Eligibility check and consent process
- NHS-funded flu vaccine matched to the current season
- Pharmacist administration in a private consultation room
- Post-jab observation and printed aftercare advice
- Electronic update to your GP and NHS record
- Optional co-administration with COVID booster at the same visit
Flu vaccination — frequently asked questions
Will it give me flu?
No. The injectable NHS flu vaccine contains inactivated virus components — it cannot cause flu. Some people feel mildly under the weather for 24–48 hours as the immune system responds; that is the vaccine working, not flu.
When should I get the jab?
Now, if you haven't already. Protection takes about 14 days to build and flu usually peaks in December and January, so late October and November is ideal. The NHS programme runs until 31 March 2027, and it's still worth having later in the season.
Can I have it during pregnancy?
Yes — and you should. The flu jab is recommended at any stage of pregnancy and protects both you and your baby in the months after birth.
What if I had flu recently?
You can still benefit from the jab. Flu has multiple strains, and the vaccine protects against several this year — having had one strain doesn't protect against the others.
How effective is it?
Effectiveness varies year to year (typically 40–60% in healthy adults), but even when it doesn't fully prevent infection it usually reduces severity, hospital admission, and onward transmission.
Do you offer private flu jabs?
Yes — for anyone aged 18+ who isn't eligible for the free NHS jab. Same vaccine, same clinical process. Ask the pharmacist for current pricing.
Do I need an appointment, and where are you?
No appointment needed — just walk in during opening hours (Monday to Friday 9:00–18:30, Saturday 9:00–14:00). We're at 301 Borough High Street, SE1 1JH: about 2 minutes' walk from Borough station (Northern line) and 8 minutes from London Bridge (Northern and Jubilee lines, National Rail).
Related Services
COVID-19 Vaccination
Autumn and spring NHS COVID boosters — can be given at the same visit as your flu jab.
Learn moreSeasonal Vaccinations
Programme overview covering flu, COVID, and ad-hoc seasonal jabs.
Learn morePharmacy First
Same-day NHS treatment for sinusitis, sore throat, earache and other common conditions.
Learn moreBook your flu jab this week
Walk in — no appointment needed — at 301 Borough High Street, 2 minutes from Borough station. Free NHS jab for eligible adults; private jabs for everyone else.