01
Walk in or pre-book
Most patients walk in. Pre-booking guarantees a 10-minute slot during peak weeks (Oct–Nov).
NHS Flu Programme
This year's flu jab, in 10 minutes.
Free annual NHS flu vaccination at Qrystal Pharmacy for eligible patients. Walk in or pre-book — our registered pharmacists vaccinate adults and older children in a private consultation room.
- 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. NHS coverage runs from September through March, with peak uptake in October–November before the winter wave arrives.
At Qrystal Pharmacy you can usually be in and out within 10 minutes. 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?
JCVI eligibility for the current season typically includes:
- Adults aged 65 and over
- Pregnant patients (any stage of pregnancy)
- Adults and children with eligible long-term conditions
- Care home residents and unpaid carers
- Frontline health and social-care workers
- Household contacts of severely immunocompromised patients (most seasons)
- Children aged 2–3 (via nasal spray, usually in primary care)
You're not eligible if:
- Adults outside eligibility groups — private flu jabs are available year-round; please ask us for pricing
- Children under 2 (paediatric primary-care services handle this group)
How your flu jab visit works
02
Consent and screening
We confirm eligibility, review allergies and current medicines, and explain side effects. You'll sign a brief consent form.
03
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.
04
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?
Mid-September through November is ideal — protection takes about 14 days to build, and you want to be covered before the winter wave begins.
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.
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 to Qrystal Pharmacy or pre-book a 10-minute slot. Free NHS jab for eligible patients; private jabs for everyone else.