A national charity has urged unpaid carers to get the flu vaccine this winter. People who are the main carer for an older or disabled person are among the millions of Britons eligible to receive a free jab.
Carers UK said it is raising awareness of Government guidance, in a bid to get more unpaid carers protected from the illness going into the colder months. The charity said during last year’s 2025 to 2026 flu season, the vaccine uptake for carers aged 16 to 64, and not in a clinical risk group themselves, was 31.3% — less than 260,000 people.
Those aged 65 and over are already eligible for free vaccination. Carers UK warns unpaid carers who “struggle to look after their own health and wellbeing” alongside their caring responsibilities “may feel unable to prioritise their own appointments.”
The charity’s research shows 40% of carers have cancelled a medical appointment, test, scan, treatment or therapy because of their caring roles. It warned “many more” unpaid carers do not get their flu jab because they haven’t formally recognised their caring role and therefore haven’t mentioned it to their GP.
Encouraging unpaid carers to get jabbed, Emily Holzhausen, director of policy and public affairs at Carers UK, said: “A free NHS flu jab is an important way to protect yourself and your family this winter, but many people who are providing unpaid care don’t think of themselves as carers, they could be unaware of their eligibility for a free flu jab and be missing out.
“We can all play a part in helping people to identify as unpaid carers. We need clear and consistent public messaging to ensure the message about free flu jab eligibility reaches the right people. GP practices also have an important role to play in proactively identifying unpaid carers and encouraging them to book their vaccination.”
Unpaid carers are just one of several groups of people able to receive the jabs free of charge.
The full list of people who can get an NHS flu vaccine is as follows:
Those aged 18 to 64 and have certain long-term health conditions
Main carers for an older or disabled person, or receive a carer’s allowance
Those who live with someone who has a weakened immune system
Those aged 16 or over and rough sleeping or staying in a homeless hostel or night shelter
Frontline health and social care workers are able to receive a flu vaccine through their employer. The NHS says the jab is recommended for people at higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu.
