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Flu tends to spread most widely through the winter months, which makes October and November the right time to be vaccinated. Our private flu vaccination service in London offers the seasonal flu jab at our Harley Street and Sloane Square clinics, with short appointments that fit around a working day rather than the other way round.
The flu vaccine is updated every year to match the strains expected to circulate, so last winter’s jab will not protect you this season. Protection takes around two weeks to build after vaccination, which is another reason not to leave it late.
Flu is often confused with a bad cold, but it usually feels quite different. It tends to come on suddenly, with a high temperature, aching muscles, exhaustion and a dry cough, and many people are unable to work for several days. Most healthy adults recover within a week or two, although the tiredness can linger. For older people, pregnant women and anyone with a long-term condition, flu can lead to complications such as pneumonia, which is why vaccination matters so much for these groups.
The NHS offers a free flu vaccine from 1 October 2026 to adults aged 65 and over, people aged 18 to 64 with certain long-term health conditions, eligible carers and frontline health and social care workers, while pregnant women and children were offered theirs from September. If you fall into one of those groups, the NHS programme is there for you.
Many healthy adults are not eligible, yet still have good reason to be vaccinated. You may live with someone older or vulnerable, have a new baby at home, travel often, work in a busy office or simply be unable to lose a week to illness. A private flu vaccination is the simplest way to be protected without waiting to qualify.
The vaccine itself serves the same purpose wherever you have it. The difference is access. The NHS programme is limited to the groups above, while a private flu jab is available to any adult who wants one. Booking privately also means choosing a time that suits you at a clinic near your office or home, without fitting around a general appointment list. If you are eligible for a free NHS vaccine, we will always tell you, and we are just as happy to help you understand your options.
For children, the NHS offers a nasal spray vaccine through schools and GP surgeries, and that remains the usual route for most families. If you have questions about your child’s eligibility or health, our doctors can talk them through with you as part of our children’s GP service.
Very few people cannot have it. You should not have the vaccine if you have previously had a severe allergic reaction to a flu vaccine or one of its ingredients. If you are unwell with a high temperature on the day, it is sensible to postpone until you have recovered, although a mild cold is not a reason to wait. Most people with an egg allergy can still be vaccinated safely, but please tell us about any allergies when you book so that we can check before your appointment.
The appointment is brief. A clinician checks your medical history, any allergies and any previous reactions to vaccines, then gives the vaccine as an injection into the upper arm. Most people have nothing more than a sore arm for a day or two, and some feel slightly tired or achy for a short time. These are normal signs of the immune system responding and pass quickly. If you have trips planned this winter, we can review anything else you need at the same visit through our travel vaccinations service.
Flu is one of the commonest reasons for winter absence, and it moves quickly through a shared office. We can arrange flu vaccinations for teams as part of our occupational health services, and some employers combine them with a corporate wellness day. Speak to us about numbers and timing so that we can plan appointments that suit your staff.
The vaccine is one part of staying well through the colder months. Regular sleep, staying active and washing your hands properly all help, as does a daily vitamin D supplement between October and March, which the NHS recommends for adults in the UK because there is too little winter sunlight to make enough. If you have a long-term condition such as asthma or diabetes, a pre-winter check, perhaps alongside a preventative health screening, is worth considering.
And if you do become unwell, our same-day GP appointments mean you can be seen quickly rather than waiting it out. Seek urgent help if you become breathless, develop chest pain or feel suddenly much worse.
To book a flu vaccination at Harley Street or Sloane Square, call The Nine Clinic on 020 3084 1600 or email info@thenineclinic.com. Vaccine pricing is available on request, with our other fees listed on our services and fees page.
October and November are ideal, as this gives your body time to build protection before flu circulates widely. If you miss that window, it is still worth having the vaccine later in the winter.
Yes. Any adult can have a private flu vaccination at The Nine Clinic, whether or not they qualify for the NHS programme.
No. The injected flu vaccine does not contain live virus, so it cannot cause flu. Some people have a sore arm or feel slightly tired for a day or two afterwards.
Yes. We arrange flu vaccinations for teams as part of our occupational health services. Contact us with your numbers and preferred dates and we will plan the appointments with you.
Yes. The flu vaccine is recommended during pregnancy and is offered free on the NHS at any stage. It protects both you and your baby in the first months after birth.