Tesco Pharmacy vaccinations

In-store pharmacy | Flu jab | Private vaccinations | Medicines | Beauty | Wellness

We'll be offering the free NHS flu jab in our pharmacies in England from September 2025 for pregnant women, and from October 2025 for all other eligible groups.

If you’re not eligible for an NHS jab, our £16 flu jab service is available to anyone aged 12 years and over from September.*

We provide a simple and convenient in-store service in our pharmacy consultation rooms.

Our pharmacies in Wales will be providing NHS flu jabs, but the timing of this service being available through community pharmacies may vary by location. Please contact your nearest Tesco Pharmacy in Wales for more information.

Our pharmacies in Scotland may provide the free NHS flu jab, dependent on the eligibility groups defined by the local health board. Please contact your nearest Tesco Pharmacy in Scotland for more information.

You’ll qualify for a free NHS flu jab in England and Wales if you:

• - are pregnant
• - are aged over 18 with certain long-term health conditions (e.g. diabetes, asthma, COPD, a heart condition, kidney or liver disease, or a neurological condition such as Parkinson's disease)
• - are a frontline worker in a social care setting without an employer-led occupational health scheme
• - live in long-stay residential care
• - are a carer (you may be receiving Carer’s Allowance, or be the main carer for someone elderly or disabled)
• - are severely overweight
• - have a weakened immune system due to a medical condition, medication or treatment (or if you are in close contact with someone who has a weakened immune system).

If you've had COVID-19, it's safe to have the flu vaccine. It will be effective at helping to prevent flu. Flu vaccination is important because:

• - if you're at higher risk from coronavirus, you're also more at risk of problems from flu
• - if you get flu and coronavirus at the same time, research shows you're more likely to be seriously ill
• - it'll help to reduce pressure on the NHS and social care staff who may be dealing with coronavirus.

Your flu jab will be given in a cleaned consultation room. If requested, we'll provide you with a free surgical face covering. Hand sanitiser will also be provided.

Yes. Every flu season, there are different strains of flu virus circulating. The protection from last year’s flu jab also gradually decreases over time. The best way to protect yourself from flu is to have a flu jab every year.

We want to make your flu jab with Tesco a simple, safe and convenient process. By asking you these questions now, we can check your suitability for a flu jab and minimise any further questions or paperwork when you arrive for your appointment.

Your appointment will take approximately 10 minutes.

Flu can cause nausea, fever, aches and pains, coughs, and a stuffy nose. You may end up in bed for several days, affecting your work schedule, family life and social commitments. People in vulnerable groups are more likely to develop potentially serious complications of flu, such as bronchitis and pneumonia. For busy workers, parents or carers, a flu jab can help limit any interruption to your routine or days off work. It also helps you reduce the risk of catching flu and therefore passing it on to older or more vulnerable family members

No. The vaccine contains inactivated particles that can’t cause flu. Any mild flu-like symptoms that you may experience are the normal response of the body’s immune system to a vaccination. Most people do not experience these symptoms.

You may experience some skin redness and swelling where you’ve had your vaccination. This may feel hard when you touch it. This will disappear with time. Less commonly, a mild temperature and aching symptoms may occur as a result of the immune system responding to the vaccine. This can last for up to 48 hours after the vaccination and is not considered unusual. If this happens, make sure you drink plenty of water. You may also feel more tired than usual, but this shouldn’t last for more than a couple of days. 

More serious reactions are very rare. However, if you experience any trouble breathing or swallowing; swelling of the lips, eyes, tongue or throat; develop abdominal cramps, a repetitive cough or rash; or notice that your skin is becoming clammy, flushed or swollen, you should ask someone to dial 999 and explain that you’ve recently had a flu vaccination.

The vaccine is not suitable for anyone who is preganant or breastfeeding, or for people with a weakened immune system. Also, children who have had the MMR vaccine in the previous 4 weeks should not have the chickenpox vaccine. The service is available to people aged between 1 and 65 years.

Book online using the button above. Alternatively, ask at a Tesco Pharmacy when shopping in-store.

A single vaccination is £70. The full course of 2 vaccinations (4-8 weeks apart) is £140.

Your appointment will take place in one of our private consultation rooms, at an in-store Tesco Pharmacy. The vaccination course is made up of 2 vaccinations, given 4-8 weeks apart. We'll schedule your second vaccination after your first appointment. Your vaccinations will be delivered by a trained Tesco pharmacist. The vaccine will be given as an injection in the upper arm for older children and adults, or in the thigh for younger children. The appointment will take around 20 minutes.

Chickenpox is a highly contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It usually causes an itchy rash, fever and tiredness. Although it's typically mild in children, it can lead to complications in adults and vulnerable groups.

The main symptom of chickenpox is an itchy, spotty rash, which can be anywhere on the body. The spots form blisters, which dry up and then scab. Before or after the rash appears, you might also have:
- a high temperature
- aches and pains, and generally feel unwell
- a loss of appetite

Chickenpox can affect all ages, but it’s most commonly caught in childhood. Some people, such as pregnant women and those with a weakened immune system, have a higher risk of complications if they catch chickenpox.

The chickenpox vaccine is very effective. Two doses of the vaccine provide about 98% protection in children and about 75% protection in teenagers and adults. Even if someone vaccinated does get chickenpox, it's usually milder than in people who haven't been vaccinated.

If you have a high temperature or feel unwell, wait until you're feeling better before having your vaccination.

Currently, vaccination against chickenpox is not routinely available to patients on the NHS.

The most common side effects of the chickenpox vaccine are mild and get better within a few days. They can include:
- pain or soreness where the injection was given
- fever (a body temperature over 37.5C)
It's a good idea to check your/your child's body temperature and give paracetamol, if needed.

For adults and older children, the vaccination will be given in the upper arm, so it’s helpful to wear short sleeves or loose sleeves that can be rolled up. With younger children, the vaccine will be given in the thigh.

In-store pharmacy | Flu jab | Private vaccinations | Medicines | Beauty | Wellness | Back to top

*Eligibility criteria apply. Subject to availability in selected stores only. All services are at the discretion of the pharmacist.