Flu and COVID-19 vaccinations this autumn
Flu vaccine
Book your free flu vaccine now and protect yourself this winter.
Winter can be tough on your health and can increase some people’s chances of becoming unwell from flu. If you are pregnant or living with a long-term condition, it is particularly important to get your free flu vaccination.
Living with a long-term condition, like heart, liver or kidney disease, or a weakened immune system, means you’re at greater risk of developing more serious illnesses from flu, such as bronchitis and pneumonia. It can also make existing conditions worse.
The flu vaccine is safe, effective and free for you. It helps prevent serious illness and keeps you well and out of hospital this winter.
Children can also get sick from flu and pass it on easily to others.
That’s why the free flu vaccine is offered to all children aged 2 to 16. For younger children, it’s a simple, safe nasal spray instead of a needle injection.
You are eligible for a free flu vaccination if you are:
- Under 65 and living with a long-term health condition
- 65 and over
- Pregnant
- A child aged 2 -16
- The main carer of an older or disabled person.
- A frontline health or social care worker
Book your free flu vaccine at your GP practice or local pharmacy today.
If you are a parent, you can book your child’s flu vaccine or nasal spray through your GP or school immunisation team.
COVID-19 vaccine
When autumn comes, protection from any earlier COVID-19 vaccination you may have had will be starting to wane. For those who are more likely to become seriously ill from COVID-19, the NHS offers a free vaccine in the autumn, previously known as the 'Autumn Booster'.
Current vaccines provide good protection against severe disease and hospitalisation. UKHSA surveillance data relating to last autumn's programme shows that those who received a vaccine were around 43% less likely to be admitted to hospital with COVID-19 from 2 weeks following vaccination, compared to those who remained unvaccinated.
Vaccination continues to help protect against severe illness, hospitalisations and deaths arising from COVID-19.
Eligible groups for autumn 2025
For autumn 2025, COVID-19 vaccination will be offered to:
- adults aged 75 years and over
- residents in care homes for older adults
- individuals who are immunosuppressed aged 6 months and over.
How to access the COVID-19 autumn vaccination
COVID-19 spreads more easily in winter because we spend more time indoors with others. Appointments for the COVID-19 vaccination are open now. If you are eligible, having your COVID-19 vaccination this autumn will give you protection from serious COVID illness over winter.
Could you have Long COVID?
Last year the Office of National Statistics (ONS) reported that two million people had Long COVID.
Confused about Long Covid? Find out the common symptoms and how to get support.
