Pharmacy multiple Superdrug has launched what it claims are the cheapest private flu vaccinations available in on the high street in the UK.

The vaccinations will cost £8.79 for its health and beauty card members and £16.99 for non members, and will be available from ‘early September’.

It has predicted an increasing interest in private flu vaccinations following the delayed start to the NHS service and changes to free flu jab eligibility.

This month it was announced that the launch date for the NHS flu vaccination service would move from September to October, although pharmacies will still be paid for delivering appointments that were already booked for next month.

Superdrug said that following the delay, it was predicting an increase in its private flu vaccination services compared to last year.

It also said that it expected the changes in NHS flu vaccination eligibility to have an impact on private flu vaccination uptake.

In May, the government announced in its annual flu vaccination programme letter that people aged between 50 and 64 years old would not be eligible for a free flu vaccination in the 2023/24 season.

Ghada Beal, Superdrug’s healthcare director, who is a pharmacist by background, said that the waiting list for Superdrug’s private flu vaccination services had already increased last year’s numbers, ‘showing that there’s even more of a demand this year’.

She added: ‘It’s great to be able to offer this service at a more accessible price-point for our customers as we know the change in eligibility will affect millions of people.

‘Our private flu vaccination services offer a convenient way for people to help protect themselves against flu and its potentially serious problems.’