Flu jab and COVID-19 booster

Vaccines remain the best line of defence against flu and COVID-19 and that is why we urge people who have not taken this up to come forward as soon as possible.

The NHS invited people considered at higher risk of becoming seriously ill from flu or COVID-19 to have thier vaccines. This includes people with lymphoma, which is a type of blood cancer. Carers and household contacts of people with lymphoma are also able to get access to these through the NHS.

The annual flu jab

The flu vaccine is given free on the NHS to people who meet any one of a number of qualifying conditions. The list includes people over 50, frontline health, social care workers and people with certain health conditions, which includes lymphoma.

You need to be vaccinated every year as each year’s vaccine is developed based on the virus strains experts think most likely to be around in the coming year.

You are recommended to have an annual influenza vaccine or ‘flu jab’ if you have lymphoma, if you have had your spleen removed (splenectomy), or if you are having chemotherapy, steroids or radiotherapy. These can suppress your immune system, making you more vulnerable to flu. People who are in close contact with you should also have the flu jab.

The timing of the flu jab is important. Ideally people should have this before they start treatment, because once on treatments such as rituximab, some evidence suggests that the flu vaccine is not as effective. If you have had a transplant, you should receive the flu vaccination 6 months post-treatment and annually thereafter.

The flu vaccine does not contain live virus, so you cannot catch flu from having the jab. Although those children who receive the nasal flu vaccine are likely to have already been given it, be aware that this is a live vaccine so you should avoid children who have had it for 2 weeks following their vaccination if your immune system is weakened.

COVID-19 booster vaccination

Protection provided by the COVID-19 vaccine reduces over time, and that’s why the autumn/winter booster was introduced in the Autumn 2022.

You can still book your COVID-19 booster vaccination or earlier COVID-19 jabs online.  

People with lymphoma should have received an invitation some time ago from the NHS to have a COVID-19 booster. Alternatively use the links below to book or manage your COVID-19 vaccination:

• England
• Scotland
• Wales
• Northern Ireland

If you think you should have been invited, for example if you have only recently become eligible, you can declare your eligibility online via the National Booking Service.
 

Posted: 24 January 2023