Vaccines can help protect you from serious illness this autumn and winter. If you’re offered vaccines, it’s important to get them.
This page gives a summary of the seasonal vaccines you may be able to get. This includes the flu, COVID-19 booster and RSV vaccines.
If you have any questions about vaccines, speak to your healthcare team.
Having Crohn’s or Colitis does not automatically mean you can get the flu, COVID-19 booster or RSV vaccines on the NHS. But you may be able to if you take certain medicines that weaken your immune system. People with weaker immune systems can have a higher risk of being very unwell from infections.
Medicines that can weaken the immune system include:
This is not a complete list of medicines. If you’re unsure about your medicine, speak to your healthcare team.
You can read more about precautions for people with a weakened immune system.
The vaccine helps to protect you against flu. If you do get flu, you’re less likely to become seriously ill if you have had the vaccine. It can also help stop flu spreading.
In England, the flu vaccine is offered to adults who:
In England, the flu vaccine is offered to children who are:
Eligibility may be slightly different in other UK nations. You can check the full details for your nation:
There is no evidence that the flu vaccine causes harm in people with Crohn’s or Colitis. And there is no known link between the vaccine and having a flare-up. Current evidence shows that it’s safer to be vaccinated than not vaccinated.
There are 2 types of flu vaccine:
People with weakened immune systems should not usually have the live flu vaccine. This is because there is a risk they could become unwell. But the non-live flu vaccine is safe for people with weakened immune systems.
If your child has a weakened immune system, they may be offered the non-live injection instead of the live nasal spray.
If your child is offered the live nasal spray and your own immune system is weakened, you may wish to see if they can have the non-live injection instead. The risk of catching flu from someone who has had the live vaccine is very low, and no case of this has ever been recorded. But you may feel more comfortable avoiding the risk. You can speak to your child’s GP or school about their vaccine.
If you or your child have the live nasal spray vaccine, it should be at least 4 weeks before starting a medicine that weakens your immune system, or at least 3 months after stopping it.
If you’re pregnant and take a medicine that weakness your immune system, your baby should not have the live nasal spray vaccine until they are at least 12 months old.
Flu vaccines are usually from offered from September or October.
If you have a high temperature, you will usually be advised to wait until you’re better before you have the vaccine.
There is no current evidence to suggest you cannot have the vaccine during a flare-up.
How and when to get the flu vaccine depends on where you live. You can check the full details for your nation:
The COVID-19 booster vaccine helps protect against becoming seriously ill. It’s offered because the COVID-19 virus changes, and protection from previous vaccines lowers over time. It’s important to top up your protection.
In England, the COVID-19 booster vaccine is offered to people who are:
Eligibility may be slightly different in other UK nations. You can check the full details for your nation:
The COVID-19 booster vaccine is not a live vaccine. It’s safe for people with weakened immune systems.
The autumn COVID-19 booster is usually offered from September or October.
If you have a high temperature, you will usually be advised to wait until you’re better before you have the vaccine.
How and when to get the flu vaccine depends on the vaccine programme where you live. See the information for your nation:
We also have more information on COVID-19 for people with Crohn’s or Colitis.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of coughs and colds. In most people it usually gets better by itself. But in some people, especially babies and older people, it can cause serious lung or chest infections.
In England, you may be able to have the RSV vaccine if you are:
Eligibility may be slightly different in other UK nations. You can check the full details for your nation:
The RSV vaccine can be given at any time of the year.
The RSV vaccine is not a live vaccine. It’s safe for people with a weakened immune system.
How and when to get the flu vaccine depends on the vaccine programme where you live. See the information for your nation:
The RSV vaccine is not usually given at the same time as the flu vaccine in older adults.
Otherwise, you can usually have the flu, COVID-19 booster or RSV vaccines at the same time. You may be offered some vaccines in the same appointment.
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Last updated: 22/07/2026
Our Helpline team can't take calls, chats or ring you back for the rest of the summer. But you can still reach us by email.
If you need to contact the team, please email helpline@crohnsandcolitis.org.uk and we'll answer you as soon as possible.
Thanks for bearing with us.
Please be aware we’re not medically or legally trained. We cannot provide detailed financial or benefits advice or specialist emotional support.
If you need specific medical advice about your condition, your GP or IBD team will be best placed to help.
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