Private Flu Jab in Edinburgh: What Happens at Your Appointment

A private flu jab is a short appointment, but people still like to know what they are walking into. What will the pharmacist ask? Which vaccine will it be? Can it be done if you take blood thinners, or if you are getting over a cold? This page answers those questions for anyone booking a flu vaccination with us at 129 Bruntsfield Place.

If you want the wider picture first, including who qualifies for a free NHS flu jab and how the vaccine works, start with our complete guide to the flu jab in Edinburgh.

Who a private flu jab is for

Private flu vaccination is mainly for adults who are not eligible for a free NHS flu jab in Scotland. This winter that includes most healthy people under 65, people in their fifties among them, since healthy 50 to 64 year olds are not in the 2026/27 Scottish programme.

People book privately for different reasons: to protect themselves before a busy winter at work, because they live or spend time with someone older or more vulnerable who is not in a household contact group, because a trip or event is coming up, or simply because they would rather not risk a week in bed. Some employers ask staff to be vaccinated, or reimburse the cost.

Check first: are you eligible for a free NHS jab?

Before paying, it is worth checking whether the NHS will vaccinate you for free. You are eligible in Scotland if you are 65 or over, pregnant, an unpaid carer, live with someone with a weakened immune system, work in frontline health or social care, or are aged 18 to 64 with a qualifying health condition, among other groups. Our page on who gets a free flu jab in Scotland goes through the full list. If you are eligible and book with us anyway, we will point that out before you pay.

How to book

You can book online using the calendar further down this page, call us on 0131 563 6824, or ask at the counter. You do not need a GP referral, and you do not need to be registered with Bruntsfield Pharmacy.

It helps to have a short list of the medicines you take, including any blood thinners or treatments that affect the immune system, and to know whether you have ever reacted badly to a vaccine.

What happens at the appointment

A flu vaccination is a clinical procedure, so the pharmacist will check a few things before giving it. Expect to be asked:

• whether you feel well today, and whether you have a temperature
• whether you have any allergies, and whether you have ever had a severe reaction to a vaccine or to any of its ingredients
• whether you are, or might be, pregnant
• whether you take an anticoagulant such as warfarin, or have a bleeding disorder
• whether you have a condition, or take a treatment, that weakens your immune system
• whether you have already had a flu vaccine this season

If everything is in order and you agree, the pharmacist gives the injection into the muscle at the top of your arm. Say if you prefer one arm over the other. A short-sleeved or loose top makes this quicker. Most people are vaccinated in the same appointment. If something on the day means it would be better to wait, such as a fever, the pharmacist will explain why and when to come back.

Book a private flu jab

Choose a time below. A pharmacist will confirm at your appointment that the vaccine is suitable for you.

Book a flu vaccination online

Which vaccine you will be given

Every flu vaccine used in the UK this season is trivalent, covering three strains, and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) sets out which types are preferred for each age. For adults under 65, cell-based and recombinant vaccines are preferred. For people aged 65 and over, the preferred options are the adjuvanted, high-dose, cell-based and recombinant vaccines, and standard egg-grown vaccines are not recommended.

At your appointment we tell you which vaccine you are being given and why it suits you. Edinburgh Vaccination Clinic, which runs from the same pharmacy, has a detailed guide to the different types of flu vaccine if you would like to read up beforehand.

If you take blood thinners or have a bleeding disorder

Most people on stable anticoagulation can have their flu jab as an ordinary injection into the muscle. National guidance says this includes people on warfarin who are up to date with their INR checks and whose latest result was within range. The pharmacist uses a fine needle and presses firmly on the site for at least two minutes afterwards, without rubbing, to reduce the chance of a bruise.

If you have a bleeding disorder such as haemophilia, vaccination into the muscle is usually still possible, but it is worth speaking to the clinician who manages your condition first. If you are unsure, mention it when you book.

If you are pregnant or have a weakened immune system

The injected flu vaccine can be given safely at any stage of pregnancy, and pregnant women are eligible for a free NHS flu jab, usually through maternity services. If you are pregnant and would still prefer to be vaccinated privately, tell us when you book.

If your immune system is weakened by a condition or treatment, the injected vaccine is safe, although your response to it may be weaker. You are also likely to be eligible on the NHS, as are the people you live with.

After the jab

Most people go straight back to their day. A sore arm, a mild temperature, tiredness, a headache or aching muscles are common and usually settle within one to two days. If you feel feverish or achy, rest, drink fluids and take a simple painkiller such as paracetamol if needed, following the pack directions.

Protection builds over about two weeks. Get medical advice if side effects last more than a few days, and call 999 if you have signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face or throat or difficulty breathing. Edinburgh Vaccination Clinic has a fuller guide to flu jab side effects if you want to know what is normal and what is not.

Your record, and your GP

We record which vaccine you were given, the batch number and the date. National guidance says vaccinations given outside a GP practice should be recorded and the record shared with your GP practice, so your health record is complete and you are not offered a second dose later in the season. Ask at your appointment how your record will be passed on, and ask if you need written confirmation, for example for an employer.

Having another vaccine at the same visit

Flu vaccines can be given at the same time as most other vaccines, including Covid-19 and shingles vaccines. If you are thinking about a private Covid-19 vaccine too, mention it when you book, so that both can be checked and planned together. For older adults, RSV vaccine is the exception: it is not routinely given on the same day as a flu vaccine.

What it costs

Private flu vaccination is charged per dose. Prices can change during the season, so we keep the current figure on our price list rather than printing it here. If your employer is paying, ask them how they would like the receipt.

Frequently asked questions about private flu jabs at Bruntsfield Pharmacy

Do I need to be registered with Bruntsfield Pharmacy?

No. You can book a private flu vaccination without being registered with us and without a GP referral.

Can I still have my flu jab if I have a cold?

Usually, yes. A minor illness without a temperature is not a reason to delay. If you have a fever or feel properly unwell, rebook for when you have recovered, so that any symptoms are not mistaken for a reaction to the vaccine.

Which arm will the injection go in?

Into the muscle at the top of either arm, so say if you have a preference. If you are having two vaccines at the same visit, national guidance is to use separate sites, preferably different arms.

How long until I am protected?

Protection builds over about 14 days. If you are vaccinating before an event, a trip or a family visit, allow at least two weeks.

Can I have the flu jab if I am allergic to eggs?

Yes. Egg allergy is no longer a reason to avoid any flu vaccine used in the UK. Tell us about it anyway, along with any other allergies.

Can you give me written proof of vaccination?

Yes, ask at your appointment. It is useful if an employer, a care setting or a travel company wants confirmation.

What if the pharmacist decides the vaccine is not suitable today?

They will explain why, and either suggest when to come back or, if there is a reason to involve another clinician, tell you who to speak to.

Related reading

• Flu Jab in Edinburgh: The Complete 2026/27 Guide from Bruntsfield Pharmacy
• Who Gets a Free Flu Jab in Scotland This Winter, and What If You Don't Qualify?
• When Should You Get Your Flu Jab, and Is It Ever Too Late?

For everything else about flu vaccination this winter, see our complete guide to the flu jab in Edinburgh.

Reviewed by Ather Diab, Superintendent Pharmacist and Independent Prescriber (GPhC 2233707). Bruntsfield Pharmacy, GPhC registration 1042628, 129 Bruntsfield Place, Edinburgh EH10 4EQ. Last reviewed: 14 October 2026.

This page is for general information and does not replace an individual assessment. Flu vaccines are prescription-only medicines and are only given after a check that vaccination is suitable for you. In an emergency, call 999.

Sources: UKHSA Green Book, chapter 19, Influenza, 25 August 2026; Scottish Government, SGHD/CMO(2026)05 and SGHD/CMO(2026)18; JCVI advice on influenza vaccines; NHS inform, flu vaccine.