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Flu and Covid jabs 2025: as prices rise, who can get vaccinated for free?
If you're more at risk of getting severely ill from flu, Covid-19 or other viruses, you're likely to be eligible for a free NHS vaccination.
But vaccinations are also available more widely via employee discount schemes, and in high street pharmacies for a fee. Often you can just walk-in to get your jab.
Private flu vaccine prices are beginning to stabilise after several years of increases. Asda flu jabs rose by £1.97 (from £13 in 2024 to £14.97, in 2025) and some independent pharmacies have put their prices up by roughly £4.
However, Tesco’s flu jab cost £13 in 2023, rose by 23% to £16 in 2024, and has remained at that price in 2025. Boots has also set the same price band as late 2024, coming in at £21.95.
In some places, you may get a discount if you're a loyalty card holder, or be able to pay with loyalty points. Read on to see if you're eligible for free jabs – if not, we've rounded up the cheapest places to get Covid and flu vaccinations privately.
Who is eligible for a free flu vaccination?
The following people are currently eligible for a free flu jab:
- People aged 65 and over (given every year)
- Those aged under 65 with certain long-term health conditions
- Children aged 2-17 (usually given in nasal spray form)
- Children aged between 6 months and 17 years with certain long-term health conditions
- Pregnant women
- Care home residents, plus carers for elderly and disabled people
- Frontline health and social care workers.
You'll be invited for a free flu vaccine if you're eligible. But contact your GP surgery if this hasn't happened or you think you qualify but haven't heard anything.
Eligibility is broadly the same across the UK, but in Scotland, there is additional eligibility for school and nursery teachers and support staff. Plus, in Scotland and Northern Ireland, over-50s are eligible.
If you're not eligible for a free vaccination, you can pay for a jab at most pharmacies.
Check if you can get free jabs through work, too. Your employer may offer a free flu vaccine as part of its benefits package (for example, with a voucher to be redeemed at participating pharmacies) or through a company private health scheme.
Cheapest flu jabs and how to book
The cheapest place we found for a flu jab was at Superdrug, but only if you're signed up to its 'Healthy and Beautycard' loyalty scheme. Members pay £9.95 for a flu jab (until the end of March 2026), while non-members pay £19.95.
It's free to sign up for Superdrug's loyalty scheme, so it's worthwhile if you want to get the lowest price.
Other options include:
- Asda Pharmacy – £14.97
- Tesco Pharmacy – £16
- Well – £18.49
- Rowlands Pharmacy – £19.99
- Boots – £21.95 (you can collect Advantage Card points on the purchase).
Some providers allow loyalty card holders to collect points on flu vaccinations, so it's worth checking beforehand. In some cases, you can pay for your jab with accrued points, too.
It's also worth asking your local independent pharmacy if they offer a private flu vaccine service, too, as prices can be competitive.
How to book your private flu jab
Booking an appointment online is available in many cases, including at Asda, Boots, Superdrug, Tesco and Well Pharmacy, although walk-in jabs are usually also possible.
Morrisons told us that while it doesn't have an online booking service, you can phone your local store to book an appointment. (Or book through your NHS app.)
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Who is eligible for a free Covid vaccination?
The following people are currently eligible for a Covid autumn 2025 (October 2025 to January 2026) jab:
- Adults aged 75 or over
- Individuals who are immunosuppressed aged 6 months and over
- Residents in care homes for older adults.
If you're eligible, you'll be offered an appointment by post or text, with those at highest risk being called in first. If you think you qualify and haven't heard anything yet, contact your GP surgery. Find out more on the NHS Covid-19 vaccination guide.
Cheapest private Covid jabs and how to book
These aren't as widely available as the flu jab, but you should still be able to find one near you. Prices range from around £45 up to £100.
Pharmadoctor has a database of pharmacies throughout the UK that can provide services including private Covid vaccinations, so you can search for a local pharmacy that offers Covid jabs.
Other options include:
- Boots – £98.95 per dose
- Peak Pharmacy – £80 per dose
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Vaccine safety and side effects
Flu vaccines are safe and effective and don't contain live viruses, so they won't give you flu. They may result in mild side effects that last a day or two, including:
- Pain or soreness where you've been injected
- An aching body
- Slightly raised temperature as your immune system mounts a response to the vaccine.
Taking a painkiller after the vaccination may help to relieve these side effects, but contact your GP if you experience any unusual symptoms. These can also be reported via the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.
RSV, pneumonia and other winter vaccines
There are certain groups of people who may benefit from having additional vaccines in preparation for the colder months.
Professor Claire Anderson, president of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, says: 'Flu, Covid-19 and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) can all lead to serious illness, particularly for older adults, pregnant women and people with underlying health conditions.'
If you're eligible for these vaccines on the NHS, you should be contacted by your GP surgery, but you can check if you haven't heard anything.
Private prices for these jabs can vary. Pneumonia vaccinations can cost from around £30-100, but shingles and RSV are harder to get hold of and can cost several hundred pounds privately.
| Vaccine | Who should have it | How to get it |
|---|---|---|
| Pneumonia (pneumococcal vaccine) |
| Your GP surgery will contact you if you or your child are eligible, or you may have to book an appointment yourself. |
| RSV (respiratory synctial virus) |
| You will be invited for the vaccine by your GP or maternity services if eligible, or you may have to book an appointment yourself. |
| Shingles |
| Eligible people will be contacted by their GP surgery, but speak to them if this hasn't happened, you missed an appointment (and you're still under 80) or you've had a vaccine before but you now have a severely weakened immune system. |
Can you have flu and Covid jabs if you're pregnant?
Yes, pregnant women are advised to have the flu jab and Covid vaccination, no matter what stage of pregnancy they're at. This winter, women are also being invited to have the RSV vaccine from 28 weeks to protect their babies from birth to six months.
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) says Covid vaccines are 'strongly recommended in pregnancy because not only can Covid cause the mother serious illness, but it can also put their babies at risk of being born prematurely'.
Flu vaccines are also recommended because pregnancy can alter how the body handles viral infections. This can lead to a greater risk of complications such as pneumonia. If flu and Covid infection happen at the same time, this can lead to serious illness.
Speak to your midwife, obstetrician or GP so you can get all the facts to make the right decision for you, and find out more in the NHS vaccinations in pregnancy guide.
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Prices checked 10 November 2025
