Hywel Dda University Health Board is encouraging people in at-risk groups to attend their flu vaccine appointments, to help protect themselves, their community, and the NHS this winter.
People across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire are being urged to look out for their vaccine appointment, which may come from their GP surgery, the health board’s Immunisation Team or a community pharmacy.
With outbreaks of flu having already been seen in the area this autumn, it’s important to attend your appointment to receive the flu vaccine, which significantly reduces the chance that you’ll need to go to hospital if you catch flu.
You are advised to have a flu vaccine if you are:
- You are advised to have a flu vaccine if you are:
- aged 2-3 years old (age on 31 August 2026)
- a primary or secondary school pupil (in reception to year 11)
- pregnant
- aged 65 or over
- aged six months to 64 years and have a long-term health condition that puts you at increased risk from flu
- a care home resident or member of staff
- a health or social care worker
- an unpaid carer
- a domiciliary carer
- are homeless
- working with poultry, cattle or swine and are at high risk
This is even if you feel healthy as you are more likely to get complications from flu if you catch it.
The health board’s School Nursing Team is offering the vaccine to pupils from Reception to Year 11, with Hywel Dda the best performing health board in Wales for this age group in 2025/26.
However, while over 100,000 people who were either aged 16-64 in an at-risk group or over 65 received a free vaccine last winter, around 40% of eligible people in those groups did not.
Hywel Dda University Health Board’s Assistant Director of Public Health Strategic Business and Operations, Bethan Lewis said: “Data released by Public Health Wales estimates more than 800 flu-related hospital admissions were avoided across the country last winter, thanks to people taking the simple step of receiving their flu vaccine.
“While over 70% of people aged over 65 in the Hywel Dda area received the flu vaccine last year, less than half of those aged 16-64 who are at greater risk, such as people with chronic respiratory diseases did.
“We are urging people to attend when they are invited to receive their flu vaccine. The early outbreaks we have seen already this autumn show how important it is to get that added protection as early as possible.
“This will not only protect you, but also others in your community and in turn help reduce the pressure on our health services during the busy winter period.”
For further details and to see a list of the groups that will be offered a free flu vaccination and for further details, please visit https://hduhb.nhs.wales/fluvaccine/.
If you have a question regarding your appointment, following these steps will help you get the information you want faster:
- Please use the contact details included on your invite letter if you have one. These will either be for your GP surgery or our Communication Hub.
- If you are calling our Communication Hub via 0300 303 8322 (Option 1), please use the call-back function to avoid having to stay on hold.
- If you are emailing our Communication Hub via ask.hdd@wales.nhs.uk, please include your full name, date of birth, postcode, and the name of the vaccine you are enquiring about in your message.
