Get protected ahead of winter with your NHS vaccines
This winter, millions of children and adults across England will be offered vaccinations to protect against the flu, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus. These vaccines are important because they help prevent people from getting seriously ill and needing hospital care during the colder months, when viruses tend to spread more.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has recommended that adults aged 65 and over, people living in care homes for older adults, and those aged 6 months to 64 years with certain health conditions can get both flu and COVID-19 vaccines this year.
Frontline health and social care workers, especially those in care homes, will also be offered these vaccines to help protect the vulnerable people they work with.
For the first time, from September 2024, the NHS will also offer a vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus, a virus that causes coughs and colds but can be more dangerous for older people and young children. This vaccine will be available for people aged 75 to 79 and pregnant women from 28 weeks to help protect their newborns.
Flu vaccines for children will start as schools reopen in September 2024 to reduce the spread of the virus. Pregnant women can get their flu jab starting 1 September 2024.
Other eligible adults will be able to get both flu and COVID-19 vaccines starting 3 October 2024. You can book your vaccinations in advance from 23 September 2024, and appointments will be available until 20 December 2024
Since flu season peaks in December and January, starting the vaccinations in October helps ensure everyone is protected before the virus spreads the most. If you’re eligible for both flu and COVID-19 shots, the NHS will make it easy to get both in one visit. However, it's better to get your respiratory syncytial virus shot on a different day from your flu or COVID-19 vaccines for the best protection.
Who will provide the jabs and how to book
Adult flu and COVID-19 appointments will be available through the NHS app and website, or by calling 119 for free. Flu vaccines will also be available through local GP practices and pharmacies.
The nasal flu vaccine is the most effective vaccine for children aged 2-17 years but if this is not suitable the GP or practice nurse may be able to offer a flu vaccine injection as an alternative.
"The flu and COVID-19 vaccines are our best defences against these viruses and can be lifesaving – so we would urge everyone eligible to book their jabs when they become available, to protect themselves and people around them."
Who is eligible and when will the jabs be available?
In line with advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, those eligible for a flu vaccine this year include:
From 1 September 2024
- pregnant women
- all children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2024
- primary school aged children (from Reception to Year 6)
- secondary school aged children (from Year 7 to Year 11)
- all children in clinical risk groups aged from 6 months to less than 18 years
From 3 October 2024
- those aged 65 years and over
- those aged 18 years to under 65 years in clinical risk groups (as defined by the Green Book)
- those in long-stay residential care homes
- carers in receipt of carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person
- close contacts of immunocompromised individuals
- frontline workers in a social care setting without an employer led occupational health scheme including those working for a registered residential care or nursing home, registered domiciliary care providers, voluntary managed hospice providers and those that are employed by Those who receive direct payments (personal budgets) or Personal Health budgets, such as Personal Assistants.
Those eligible for an autumn COVID-19 booster are:
- residents in a care home for older adults
- all adults aged 65 years and over
- persons aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group, as defined in the Green Book
- frontline health and social care workers and staff in care homes for older adults
“For the first time ever this year, we’re offering respiratory syncytial virus vaccinations as well as COVID-19 and flu doses, supporting the most vulnerable people and protecting our NHS this winter.”
