Getting the Flu Vaccine Book your flu vaccination today! People with Addison's disease, adrenal insufficiency or who are steroid dependent for another reason are entitled to the free NHS flu jab from 1 October 2025. This is to reduce the risk of getting the flu as people with steroid dependency are particularly vulnerable to serious complications if they become unwell. We recommend that you take up the offer of this free vaccine to reduce your risk of becoming seriously unwell. With most flu cases and complications occurring from December to March, it's not too late to book your jab. Read on for more information about receiving the flu jab. Why you should get the flu jab How does the flu jab work? Book your flu jab Should I increase my glucocorticoid dose before having a vaccine? “My GP won’t give me the free NHS Flu jab " - Next Steps Will I receive a COVID-19 Winter Booster vaccination? Further resources Why you should get the flu jab Flu vaccines can make a big difference to your health in winter! If you have adrenal insufficiency, including Addison’s, and catch the flu, you’re likely to be unwell for longer and become more seriously unwell, potentially triggering an adrenal crisis. The flu jab is the best way of protecting yourself. It can mean fewer visits to your GP or hospital, helping you stay well and reducing pressure on the NHS during flu season (October-March). Not only does it offer individual protection, but it also helps protect those around us. If you don’t catch flu, you can’t pass it on to people around you. So if you and those you spend time with are up to date with your jabs, this will help everyone stay safe. You can’t get the flu from the flu vaccine, but it takes about two weeks to work so you could still get the flu during that time. That’s why it’s important to get the vaccine as soon as you can, ideally in autumn or early winter, before the flu starts spreading. How does the flu jab work? The flu virus can change each year, therefore the flu jab protects you against the most common types of flu currently around. As this changes each year, it means you need a new vaccine each year too. Even with the vaccine, there's still a chance you might get the flu. But if you do get flu after having the vaccine, it's usually milder and you may recover more quickly. Nobody wants to be unwell and stuck in bed or worse, hospital. So this is your best chance to stay well this winter! If you have an illness or infection and you feel like you have a fever, don’t get the flu vaccine. Wait until you’re better or speak to a healthcare professional about when to have it. If you have more questions about the flu jab, including reactions, please visit our vaccination page. Dr Alessandro Prete, Consultant Endocrinologist, explains more about the importance of getting your vaccines when you are steroid dependent. “Do not underestimate the flu. For people who are steroid dependent, catching flu can have serious consequences such as developing a life-threatening adrenal crisis. An ADSHG member survey showed that one in four adrenal crises were triggered by the flu or flu-like illnesses. Most flu illnesses recover fully within a few days, but it is imperative that people who are steroid dependent follow the sick day rules." "If you have a temperature, feel poorly or weak, double your daily steroid dose until you are better. If your temperature is above 39 degrees, treble your steroid dose. If you don’t feel better after 48 hours, continue to take extra steroids and speak to your GP or your endocrine nurse/doctor for more advice. If you feel very unwell with vomiting, diarrhoea or can’t keep your tablets down, you should inject yourself with 100mg of hydrocortisone and seek medical advice immediately." “Most people tolerate the flu jab well; however, some may develop temporary side effects such as headache, fever, nausea, muscle aches, and fatigue, which usually resolve within 24 hours. If you are prone to developing these side effects, you may want to take an extra dose of steroids (e.g., 10mg of oral hydrocortisone) about an hour before getting the jab. You should also take some extra steroids and drink plenty of fluids if you were to develop a temperature and keep doing so until you feel better.” Where and when to book your flu jab You can book a flu vaccination appointment online or in the NHS App. Appointments will be available from 1 October 2025. Stores such as Boots, Tesco, Superdrug, Asda and Lloyds Pharmacy are also offering online booking services for the vaccines. NHS: Book Your Flu Jab Children can receive jabs at their GP, school or a community clinic, depending on their age and circumstances. Find out more about vaccines for children at from the NHS website: child flu vaccine. Should I increase my glucocorticoid dose before having a vaccine? Our Addison's Clinical Advisory Panel (CAP) and Society for Endocrinology have advised that there is no need to routinely increase glucocorticoid dose in patients with adrenal insufficiency, including Addison’s, at the time of vaccination if no significant symptoms as most people tolerate the flu jab well. However, if you know you are prone to developing side effects or are unsure, you may want to take an extra dose of steroids about an hour before getting the jab and rest well following your vaccine. Vaccines are different for everyone, as everybody is different - so please listen to your body and do what is right for you. If you are particularly anxious/ stressed before a vaccination, this will "use up" your cortisol, so you may find you feel you need to up-dose in response to how you feel for that reason. If you feel unwell after a vaccination: Check if you have an allergy to any ingredients in the vaccine Increase your glucocorticoid as you would normally for the sick day rules Take paracetamol to help reduce your symptoms making them easier to manage Rest and drink plenty of fluids Visit the NHS website to find out more about reactions to vaccines and the Yellow Card scheme for reporting. Side effects, such as feeling tired, are a sign that your immune system is kicking into action to protect you - the vaccine can’t give you flu. Your immune system will be learning to respond to the virus. “My GP won’t give me the free NHS Flu jab " - Next Steps Due to adrenal insufficiency, including Addison’s, being a rare disease, healthcare professionals don't always have the information they need to make certain decisions regarding the management of this rare condition. With this in mind, our charity exists to give you the information and support, should you need it, to send to your GP or healthcare professional, so you can work together. Please visit our Flu Jab and Other Vaccines page for a guide on the next steps you can follow. Will I receive a COVID-19 Winter Booster vaccination? The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which advises the government on vaccines, explains that since the pandemic began, vaccines and boosters have built strong protection across the population to the virus that causes COVID-19. The rates of serious illness and hospitalisation from coronavirus have significantly reduced, despite some groups of people being at higher risk of more severe infection. Therefore due to the high population immunity to COVID-19, the government has decided that from Autumn 2025, only the following groups of people will be offered a COVID-19 vaccination in the UK: adults aged 75 years and over residents in a care home for older adults individuals aged 6 months and over who are immunosuppressed This means that all children and adults in the UK living with long-term health conditions, including Addison’s and adrenal insufficiency, who do not fall into one of the three groups listed above, will no longer be offered a free NHS COVID-19 vaccination. For more information see the NHS website: COVID-19 vaccine - NHS Steroids taken for adrenal insufficiency are replacement doses and increasing the dose during illness is to try and mimic your body's natural physiological response. In the correctly tailored dosages, they should not suppress your immune system or make you more susceptible to infection. Learn more on our medication page. However if you feel you should qualify for the immunosuppressed group to the level of steroids you take, please contact your healthcare team. This does not affect flu jab eligibility and people living with adrenal insufficiency, including Addison’s, will still be offered a winter flu jab as normal. Private COVID booster vaccines remain available COVID booster vaccines are available privately from most local pharmacies as well as larger pharmacies such as Boots and are safe to have at the same time as your flu jab, although it is advised to have them in different arms. If you are worried you may like to consider paying for a private COVID booster vaccine. Emotional support You might be feeling worried and anxious about coronavirus. Please visit our webpage to help you cope with stress and other emotions. You can also connect with others on our online forum, where members share their experiences and advice, and you can ask any unanswered questions. You can also visit our sanctuary of support page to help if you feel lost, concerned, puzzled or poorly. Further resources COVID Guidance Vaccine Information Sick Day Rules Our thanks to Dr Alessandro Prete Consultant Endocrinologist, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and ADSHG Medical Trustee. Whether you're newly diagnosed or have lived with the condition for years - please join our community and support our cause! You'll receive the latest expert advice, guidance and ADSHG news, whilst being part of our inspiring and supportive community. Become a member today! Join the ADSHG Connect on social media! Follow us on X/Twitter, Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, TikTok and YouTube. Manage Cookie Preferences