Flu vaccinations for Social Care workers

Eligibility

All frontline workers in a social care setting are eligible for the flu vaccine and are
encouraged to protect themselves and those they care for.

Recent UKHSA estimates show:

2024/25: approximately 9,740 influenza-attributable excess deaths in England.

2025/26: approximately 3,798 influenza-attributable excess deaths in England.

The people most affected by flu are often the same people supported by social care
services: older adults, care home residents and people with long-term health conditions.

How to get the flu vaccine

As part of employee offer or by visiting own GP or a community pharmacy – self identifying as social care worker
(best to have the ID badge or payslip as proof).

The scheme is available to all frontline workers employed by the following types of social care providers:

a registered residential care or nursing home

registered domiciliary care provider

a voluntary managed hospice provider

Direct Payment (personal budgets) or Personal Health Budgets, such as Personal Assistants (PAs)

As part of winter preparedness, care home managers should actively promote vaccination among staff and liaise
with vaccination providers to ensure staff can access vaccination when providers attend the home. Making
vaccination easy and accessible can help maximise uptake and strengthen workforce resilience.

Flu vaccination guidance for social care workers and unpaid carers

Flu vaccination guidance for adult social care and hospice providers