Vaccinations
Flu season in Bristol: what you need to know this year
When to get vaccinated, who qualifies for a free NHS jab, and why timing matters more than most people think.
By Vivo Clinical Team · 1 September 2026 · 4 min read
Flu circulates every winter, and the people most affected are often those least able to shrug it off: older adults, pregnant women, and anyone living with a long-term condition.
Protection takes around two weeks to build, so having your vaccine in September or October means you are covered before cases start rising in earnest.
You can have your flu vaccine free on the NHS if you are 65 or over, pregnant, a carer, or living with a condition such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease. If you are not eligible, a private vaccine is available at every Vivo branch.
Appointments take around ten minutes, there is no need to see your GP first, and you can walk in or book a time that suits you at any of our eight Bristol pharmacies.
Talk to the pharmacy team
Choose your branch, pick a time and you are done. NHS and private appointments across eight Bristol pharmacies.
