Covid-19 vaccination programme

For some, flu and COVID-19 are unpleasant. But for many, particularly those with certain health conditions, older people and pregnant women, they can be very dangerous and even life-threatening. Catching both viruses over winter increases the risk of serious illness even further.

Vaccines are our best protection against flu and COVID-19. In winter, flu and COVID-19 spread more easily as we spend more time indoors. Getting these vaccines ahead of winter are two of the most important things you can do to keep yourself and others around you safe.

It is important to top up your protection, even if you have had a vaccine or been ill with flu or COVID-19 before, as immunity fades over time and these viruses change each year.

Both vaccines have a good safety record. Their side-effects are generally mild and do not last for more than a few days.

Who will be offered a COVID-19 booster vaccination this autumn 2023

This autumn the NHS will offer COVID-19 vaccines to those at greater risk of serious illness this winter.

The JCVI advises the following groups are offered a COVID-19 booster vaccine this autumn:

• Residents and staff in older adult care homes
• Everyone aged 65 and over
• People aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group
• Frontline health and social care workers
• Household contacts of immunosuppressed people aged 12 to 64
• Unpaid carers aged 16 to 64

How to book your COVID-19 vaccination

Our COVID-19 vaccination programme will begin from mid-September 2023. Care home residents and staff and some people who require a home visit will be vaccinated from 11 September 2023.

All other eligible groups can make a COVID-19 booking by:

• Using the National Booking System from 18 September 2023
• Waiting to be contacted by your GP Practice to arrange an appointment
• Calling 119 by telephone

Health and social care workers will be invited for their vaccines through their employer.

For more information, please visit the COVID-19 vaccination page on the nhs.uk website.

The National Booking Service has the latest infomation regarding which vaccination centres, including pharmacies, are offering the vaccination.

Book your autumn 2023 COVID vaccination

Flu vaccinations

The flu national booking service will become available later into the Autumn campaign but people who are eligible can access their flu vaccine from their GP surgery or pharmacy sooner. They will be notified by their GP Practice.

The children’s flu programme remains unchanged and will start from September. School aged children will be able to get the flu vaccine at school or at community clinics, and those with long term health conditions can also get the vaccine at GP surgeries. Children aged two and three years will be able to get an appointment with their GP practice. This was previously prioritised to prevent children from getting seriously ill from flu and ending up hospital, and to break the chain of transmission of the virus to the wider population.

Find out more about flu vaccines on our dedicated flu vaccination webpage.