Vaccines 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) has recommended that the following groups are eligible for flu and COVID-19 vaccinations:
- adults aged 65 and over
- residents of care homes for older adults, and
- those aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group (as defined by the Green Book)
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 care homes for older adults being offered the COVID-19 jab.
When can I have a flu or COVID-19 vaccination?
Flu vaccinations for children started in September, to help stop the virus spreading in classrooms. Parents will be asked to complete an electronic consent form shortly before the vaccination team is due to visit your school. The nasal flu vaccine is the most effective vaccine for children aged 2-17 years but if this is not suitable the school immunisations team, GP or practice nurse may be able to offer a flu vaccine injection as an alternative. Pregnant women can also get their flu jab from their GP practice when vaccine supplies are available.
If your child has missed their flu vaccine at school, it’s not too late to catch up. Call 0300 555 5055, Option 1 if you live in Hertfordshire, or if you live in Essex call 0300 790 0597.
Flu and COVID-19 vaccinations are available for other eligible groups
If your GP practice is offering flu and COVID-19 vaccinations this autumn, they will get in touch with you when they have vaccine supplies and clinic availability. We kindly advise you not to contact your GP practice or pharmacy about these vaccinations before the start of October.
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. The NHS website and 119 will allow you to book flu and COVID-19 jabs at the same time, if you would prefer to have one appointment rather than two.
COV(D-19 vaccinations will be available from participating pharmacies until Friday 20 December.
New RSV vaccine for pregnant women and people aged 75-79
For the first time from September the NHS will offer vaccines for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a common cause of coughs and colds which can be dangerous to older people and young children. This year, the jab will be available to those aged 75 to 79, and it will be offered to pregnant women from 28 weeks, to protect their baby in their first few weeks of life.
Pregnant women are also encouraged to have their pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine to protect themselves and their baby. Find out more about the whooping cough vaccine.
How to get your vaccines
Most GP practices in Hertfordshire and west Essex will be offering flu and COVID-19 vaccinations to their patients from 3 October. Your practice will contact you when they have clinic dates arranged.
There are also more than 100 pharmacies offering flu and COVID-19 vaccines which you can book through the NHS App and website, or by calling 119 for free. It is expected that booking will open on 23 September, with appointments running from 3 October until 20 December.
GP practices will be contacting people aged 75-79 to invite them for an RSV vaccination during September. All pregnant people will be invited by text message to book into a community clinic to receive their vaccination.
Eligibility
In line with advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, those eligible for a flu vaccine this year include:
From 1 September:
- 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:
- 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 vaccination are:
- residents in a care home for older adults
- all adults aged 65 years and over
- those 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
Those eligible for a RSV vaccination are:
- People aged 75 to 79 years old
- Women that are at least 28 weeks pregnant
Steve Russell, NHS National Director for Vaccinations and Screening said: “The flu and COVID-19 vaccines are our best defences against these viruses and can be lifesaving – so I would urge everyone eligible to book their jabs when they become available, to protect themselves and people around them.
“This year for the first time, we will also be offering the RSV vaccine to older people and pregnant women, to provide vital protection against this dangerous virus for those at greatest risk.
“These viruses leave thousands of people in hospital each year, and the vaccinations help us to keep more people well during the winter months when we expect the NHS to again be under significant pressure – so please come forward as soon as you are invited.”
Dr Mary Ramsay, Director of Public Health Programmes at the UK Health Security Agency, said: “Winter vaccinations offer huge opportunities to prevent severe illness in those most vulnerable including pregnant women, young children and older people as well as easing NHS winter pressures. This year pregnant women and older adults will also be offered vital protection from RSV as well as flu and COVID-19. I urge everyone eligible to get vaccinated as soon as possible once invited.”
More information
Read more about vaccinations that are available on the NHS.
If you have questions about vaccinations, please talk to your GP practice, or speak to your midwife at your next appointment if you are pregnant.