01/10/2024
The flu vaccine is safe and effective. It helps to protect you from flu. The best time to get the flu vaccine is before the flu season starts.
For adults, the flu vaccine is given as an injection into your arm.
Children get the flu vaccine as a spray into their nose (nasal spray).
You can get a free flu vaccine if you are:
- age 60 and older
- age 2 to 17
- a healthcare worker
- pregnant
- living in a nursing home or other long-term care facility
- in regular contact with pigs, poultry or waterfowl
- someone with a health condition that puts you at higher risk of flu (age 6 months and older)
- living with someone who has a health condition that puts them at higher risk of flu
- a carer for someone who has a health condition that puts them at higher risk of flu
It takes 2 weeks for the vaccine to work. It should protect you for the whole flu season.
