Immunisations and vaccinations

How to get the COVID-19 vaccine

You can get a COVID-19 vaccine if you:

• are an adult aged 75 years and over
• a resident living in a care home for older adults
• or if you are an individual who is immunosuppressed and aged 6 months and over

Health conditions and treatments that mean you're eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine

This represents a change from the autumn 2024 programme, which also included adults aged 65 to 74 and all those aged 6 months and over in a clinical risk group.

If you're eligible for the  COVID-19 vaccine, you can:

• book a COVID-19 vaccination appointment online or in the NHS App
• go to a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination site

Some people may be able to get vaccinated at a local service, such as a community pharmacy or GP surgery, or at a care home if they live in a care home.

You do not need to wait for an invitation before booking an appointment.

• If you get flu and COVID-19 at the same time, research shows you're more likely to be seriously ill. Getting vaccinated against flu and COVID-19 will provide protection for you and those around you. 
• Some people may be eligible for both the flu and the COVID-19 booster vaccines. If you are offered both vaccines, it's safe to have them at the same time. 
• If you are not able to have both vaccines at the same time, please go ahead with the vaccine you can have; you can catch up with the other vaccine later. 

For the most up to date guidance on the Flu vaccine, visit the NHS website.

• Influenza (flu) is a very common and highly infectious disease caused by a virus. It can be more severe than the common cold and often results in at least 2-3 days in bed, leading to missed work and school days.  
• While flu is unpleasant for most people it can be very dangerous and even life threatening for some, particularly people with certain health conditions. 
• The flu vaccine is a safe and effective vaccine. Like all vaccines used in the UK, it’s been approved by the UK’s independent regulatory body for medicines and vaccines. It's offered every year on the NHS to help protect people at risk of getting seriously ill from flu.  
• If you are eligible for the flu vaccine, it is important to get it every year because the viruses that cause flu change every year. This means the flu (and the vaccine) this year may be different from last year. 
• The best time to have the flu vaccine is in the autumn or early winter before flu starts spreading.  Please come forward for vaccination as soon as you are invited.  
• The flu vaccine is offered to people most at risk of getting seriously ill from flu or who are most likely to pass flu to other people at risk. 
• This year, the free vaccine will be offered to those most at risk from flu first. This includes younger children, older people (65 years and over), those in clinical risk groups and pregnant women. 
• From mid-October 2022, people aged 50 to 64 years old that aren’t in a clinical risk group, will also be able to get a free flu vaccine. Please wait until mid-October before booking an appointment with your GP practice or a local community pharmacy so those most at risk can get their vaccine first. 
• Some secondary school aged children will be offered a flu vaccine by the local school-aged immunisation provider service, most likely later in the season. 
• If your child is in a clinical risk group, please contact your GP if you would like your child to receive the vaccine earlier in the season. 

• You can have the NHS flu vaccine at your GP surgery, a pharmacy offering the service, your midwifery service if you're pregnant, or at a hospital appointment. 
• You do not need to be registered with a GP or have an NHS number to get a flu vaccine. Registering with a GP is an important thing to do as it allows you to access healthcare services, but you should not be turned away from a walk-in pharmacy site if you’re unregistered. 
• You may be asked to declare your health condition that makes you eligible for the free flu vaccine. No immigration checks will be carried out when you receive the vaccine. 

The nasal spray flu vaccine is free on the NHS for: 

• children aged two or three years on 31 August 2022 (born between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2020)
• all primary school children (Reception to Year 6)
• some secondary school aged children
• children aged two to 17 years with long-term health conditions

If your child is aged between six months and two years and has a long-term health condition that makes them at higher risk from flu, they'll be offered a flu vaccine injection instead of the nasal spray.  This is because the nasal spray is not licensed for children under two years old. 

The nasal spray vaccine offers the best protection for children aged two to 17 years. They'll be offered a flu vaccine injection if the nasal spray vaccine is not suitable for them. Injected flu vaccines are also safe and effective.

The nasal spray does contain traces of porcine gelatine.

If you wish to have an alternative, you can request the injectable vaccine which does not contain any porcine derivatives.