Tesco pharmacies to begin offering free winter flu jabs

Vaccinations available in 342 Tesco pharmacies across the UK from Monday 11th September

Booking system now open at tesco.com/flujab 

From next Monday, 11th September, Tesco pharmacies will begin offering a free NHS flu jab to over 65s, and other groups who are eligible. Those who aren't eligible for a free NHS Flu Jab, there's good news! Tesco is offering a £13 Private Flu Jab Service to customers aged 12 years of age and over.

To help more people access the vaccination, Tesco Pharmacy is operating an online booking system at tesco.com/flujab so customers can book a slot at a date and time that suits them. 

With longer opening hours than GP surgeries and many high-street pharmacies, customers can receive their vaccinations at a time that fits around their schedule including evenings and weekends, or even combine it with their weekly shop and perhaps a visit to the Tesco café? 

Last year, only 35% of pregnant women and 49% of those in a clinical risk group were vaccinated. By offering the greatest possible number of time slots, Tesco’s pharmacists hope to encourage more of those who would benefit from a free vaccination to get the flu jab.

The flu jab will be given by a trained Tesco pharmacist in a private consultation room. 

Adrian Price, who is the Tesco Superintendent Pharmacist said: “We want to make getting your jab as easy as doing the weekly shop. More than ever, it will be vital to keep your family safe and well from flu. You will reduce the risk of catching flu and passing it on to older or more vulnerable family members.”

For people with pre-existing conditions like diabetes or heart disease, flu can be severe or even deadly. The flu jab was associated with a 50% reduction in mortality during flu season for people living with type 2 diabetes, according to research carried out over a seven-year period.

For people with heart and circulatory diseases, having the flu vaccine cuts the risk of a heart attack by 27% and of dying by 25%.

Data revealed that in the winter of 2019/20, there were some 6,600 excess deaths from heart and circulatory diseases in the UK, with flu likely to have been a contributory factor.

Last year Tesco launched its ‘Let’s Talk’ service that saw its pharmacists and pharmacy team members trained by Cancer Research UK, British Heart Foundation and Diabetes UK. 

Besides to providing regular Pharmacy services, the Tesco Pharmacy team are now uniquely able to provide specialist information and support for customers to help lower the risk of cancer, heart and circulatory diseases, and type 2 diabetes.