The place’s the most affordable flu jab within the UK this yr?

Winter is properly and actually on the best way, with temperatures dropping to single digits within the coming weeks. And with unhealthy climate comes sniffles and sneezes: at Be Intelligent With Your Money, we’re all stocking up on chilly & flu medicine (own brand, of course). 

However one technique to keep away from getting critically unwell from the flu is to get a flu jab—and there are methods to save cash on it.

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What’s the flu jab?

The flu jab, also called the flu vaccine, is an annual vaccination towards influenza. Whereas the flu is disagreeable for most individuals, some can get critically unwell from it, which can lead to hospitalisation. 

The flu jab isn’t restricted to simply the outdated and susceptible, though these individuals are thought-about larger danger to allow them to get it for free. The vaccine prevents you from getting critically unwell from it and may stop you from getting it in any respect. 

A brand new vaccine is developed twice a yr because the virus adjustments, so the NHS means that we get it yearly to guard us from new strains.

How a lot does the flu jab price?

The flu vaccine is obtainable to high-risk folks, carers and medical employees free of charge. It’s positively price checking in the event you’re eligible for a free one — we’ve listed the eligibility standards beneath.

In case you can’t get a free flu jab, you possibly can nonetheless get one privately at quite a lot of pharmacies, together with those inside supermarkets. It prices between £9.95 and £21.95 at nationwide chains. 

The price of the flu vaccine varies lots, with Boots coming in the most costly at almost £22 and Morrisons at simply £12 – although there are methods to avoid wasting extra, as we share beneath. Native unbiased pharmacies would possibly provide completely different costs – those we checked ranged between £15 and £20. 

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Are you able to get a free flu vaccine?

Numerous folks can get a free flu jab on the NHS, you would possibly be capable to get one in the event you:

  • are 65 and over or flip 65 earlier than 31 March 2025
  • have sure well being situations, together with respiratory situations, coronary heart situations and weakened immune techniques. Verify the NHS web site for a full list
  • are pregnant
  • are in residential care
  • obtain a carer’s allowance, or are the principle carer for somebody
  • reside with somebody who’s extra prone to get a extreme an infection on account of a weakened immune system
  • are a frontline well being or social care employee

How to save cash in your flu jab

Loyalty playing cards can assist you lower your expenses in your flu jab – Superdrug and Morrisons offers you a reduction when you’ve got a loyalty card. In the meantime, Boots allows you to declare 3 factors per £1 as normal. 

Superdrug 

You probably have a Superdrug Well being & Magnificence Card you may get a flu vaccine for simply £9.95 — £1.16 greater than final yr however nonetheless the most affordable flu jab out there in the meanwhile.

The Superdrug card is free, so sign up for one in-store or on-line forward of your jab and also you’ll get it for the cheaper price.

Superdrug allows you to book your flu jab online, however you may also get a walk-in appointment.

Morrisons

Morrisons is providing a flu jab for £12 in the event you’ve received a Morrisons More card or £15 with out. The Morrisons Extra card is free to join, so it’s price doing!

As with Asda, not all shops have a pharmacy, so you must use its store finder to search out one.

Asda

Asda is the subsequent least expensive place to get a flu jab at £13. You may generally get cash in your money pot when you’ve got an Asda Rewards card, in 2023 you might get £2, so it’s price having a fast look in your app.

Not all shops have a pharmacy, so chances are you’ll must examine its store locator to search out your closest one and weigh up the financial savings towards the longer journey in the event you would have one. 

Tesco

Up to now,Tesco has provided the flu jab at a reduction for Clubcard members. Sadly, this yr it’s providing it at £16 for all clients, Clubcard or not (up £3 from final yr). 

You may e-book your jab on-line, however you’ll must discover a store that’s got a pharmacy. 

Rowlands Pharmacy

Rowlands Pharmacy is providing flu jabs for £17.99. You may e-book it online. That is £1 greater than final yr.

Properly

At Properly, it prices £17.99 for a flu jab. You may book it online when you’ve got a pharmacy close to you. This is similar value as final yr.

Boots

At Boots, it prices £21.95 for a flu jab (£2 greater than in 2023). You may accumulate Advantage Card factors on the acquisition, which may get you 3 factors for each £1, although that’ll solely earn you 63p again. 

You may e-book your flu jab online.

The place are you able to get the most affordable flu jab?