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When you should have the flu/ Covid vaccines

Flu Jab Park View Pharmacy LondonMost eligible adults will be able to get the flu vaccine from 3 October 2024.

This may be later than you’ve had the vaccine before, but it means you’ll have the best protection when flu is most widespread.Some people may have their vaccination from September 2024, including if:

  • You’re pregnant (especially if you’re near to your due date) – it’s important to get vaccinated before giving birth to help protect yourself and your baby for the first few months of their life
  • You’re due to have treatment that will weaken your immune system (such as chemotherapy) – the vaccine may be given before treatment starts because it works better if given when your immune system is stronger

This includes:

  • those aged 65 years and over
  • those aged 18 years to under 65 years in clinical risk groups (as defined by the Green Book –
  •  Diabetes
  •  Asthma (treated with a preventer inhaler) / COPD or any other long-term lung condition
    – A long-term heart condition
    – Kidney or liver disease
    – A neurological condition such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease or MS
    – A learning disability
    – A Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or more (severely overweight)
    – A weakened immune system (or are in close contact with someone who has a weakened immune system) due to a medical condition such as HIV.
  • 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 individualsf
  • rontline 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.

 

NHS booking opens for life-saving flu and COVID-19 vaccinations

Millions of people in England can book flu and COVID-19 vaccinations from today (Monday, 23 September) as the NHS rolls out additional protection for those most at risk ahead of winter.

Anyone eligible can book their vaccinations from 9am via the NHS website, by downloading the NHS App, or by calling 119 for free if they can’t get online.

The vaccinations, which will be available from 3 October, provide vital protection to keep people from developing serious illnesses and ending up in hospital during busy winter months.

This year, based on the latest scientific evidence, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommended adults aged 65 and over, residents in older adult care homes and those with underlying health conditions aged 6 months to 64 years will be eligible for flu and COVID-19 vaccinations.

The Government has also decided that, as in previous years, the COVID-19 and flu vaccines will be offered to frontline health and social care staff, with staff in older adult care homes being offered the COVID-19 jab.

Eligible people will begin receiving invitations from the NHS to get their jabs, while GP practices and other local NHS services will also be contacting people to offer both vaccines. The flu vaccine can also be booked by searching online for a local pharmacy.

Flu season usually peaks in December and January, so starting adult vaccinations from October will ensure those most at risk are protected during the colder months when people gather indoors and viruses spread.

For those adults eligible for both flu and COVID-19 vaccines, the NHS will make them available at the same time, giving the option to get protection from both viruses in one visit. However, it is more effective for people to have the RSV vaccination on a different day from any flu or COVID-19 vaccinations.

Flu vaccinations for children started in September for the new school year, to help stop the virus spreading, and pregnant women have been able to get their jab from 1 September. 

Michelle Kane, Director for Vaccinations at NHS England, said: “The flu and COVID-19 vaccines can be life-saving and are our best defences against these viruses – and it takes just a few minutes to book online or via the NHS App or 119, so I would urge everyone eligible to do so, to protect themselves and people around them.

“We know that these vaccinations help more people keep well and stay out of hospital during the winter months, which is especially important at a time when the NHS is expected to be under a lot of pressure. It is therefore vital that everyone eligible comes forward when invited.” 

In line with advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, those eligible for Covid/Flu vaccines this year include:

From 3 October:

  • those aged 65 years and over
  • those aged 18 years to under 65 years in clinical risk groups (as defined by the Green Book –
  •  Diabetes
  •  Asthma (treated with a preventer inhaler) / COPD or any other long-term lung condition
    – A long-term heart condition
    – Kidney or liver disease
    – A neurological condition such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease or MS
    – A learning disability
    – A Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or more (severely overweight)
    – A weakened immune system (or are in close contact with someone who has a weakened immune system) due to a medical condition such as HIV.
  • 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 individualsf
  • rontline 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.

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