Where can I get my COVID-19 vaccination?
The 2023/24 COVID-19 winter programme ended on 31 January.
If you are eligible, you will be able to get a COVID-19 vaccination or booster in April 2024 when the spring programme starts.
Come back and check here for exact dates of the spring campaign, or refer to the NHS page: www.
If you are immunosuppressed check the next section: What if I am immunosuppressed?
What if I am immunosuppressed?
If you have been recently diagnosed as immunosuppressed then you may be eligible for a COVID-19 at any time. Contact your GP or healthcare specialist to arrange a vaccination
Examples of immunosuppression conditions include:
- Cancers such as lymphoma or leukaemia
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Crohn's disease
- Ulcerative colitis
- Organ transplants
- Severe psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis
If you are registered as house bound, please contact your GP in the first instance.
Can I still get a flu vaccination?
Yes, you can get a flu vaccination through your GP or at a participating pharmacy until 31 March 2024. NHS Find a Pharmacy
If you are registered as house bound, please contact your GP in the first instance.
Why should I get the flu vaccine?
The flu vaccine is an effective way to protect yourself from the flu virus and has a good safety record.
- While flu can be unpleasant, for some it can be very dangerous and even life threatening, particularly people with certain health conditions, older people and pregnant women. For them, it can increase the risk of developing more serious illnesses such as bronchitis and pneumonia or can make existing conditions worse. Every winter, thousands die from flu.
- Children aged under 5 have one of the highest hospitalisation rates for flu. Last year over 6,000 under 5s in England were hospitalised by flu, and many more needed care in accident and emergency. The vaccine reduces a child’s chance of needing hospital care for flu by around two-thirds.
- Having your flu vaccination will reduce your risk of serious illness and help you recover more quickly if you catch the viruses. Getting the vaccines while pregnant helps to protect you and your baby from complications if you catch these viruses. The vaccines have kept tens of thousands of people out of hospital and helped to save countless lives and they give you better protection than any immunity gained from previous infections. They also help protect your family and other people in your community, by helping to stop diseases spreading.
- In winter, flu spreads more easily as we spend more time indoors. Getting these vaccines ahead of winter are two of the most important things you can do to keep yourself and others around you safe and ‘get winter strong’.
When should I get the flu vaccine?
- Flu spreads more easily in winter as we spend more time indoors. Catching flu over winter increases the risk of serious illness even further which is why we are encouraging all eligible people to get their vaccine as soon as they can.
- Those people who want a flu vaccination will be able to do so up to 31 March 2024.
- GP practices and pharmacies get the flu vaccine in batches to make sure that it is widely available. If you are eligible and cannot get an appointment, ask if you can book an appointment for when more vaccines are available.
NHS Find a Pharmacy You do not need to be registered with a GP.
If I have had a flu vaccine before, do I need to get it again?
- If you are eligible for the flu or Covid-19 vaccine based on the JCVI* recommendations, it is important to top up your protection, even if you have had a vaccine or been ill with flu before, as immunity fades over time and flu viruses change each year.
* JCVI – Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation
- The vaccines give you additional protection to that gained from previous infections.
Who decided who is eligible to get the flu vaccine for free on the NHS?
- The flu vaccine programmes aim to reduce the number of people that get seriously ill and reduce the spread of the virus. The government decide which groups will be eligible for free vaccines on the NHS. Their decision is based on the independent advice of clinical experts in the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) who review the latest clinical evidence and data.
Is the flu vaccine safe?
- The flu vaccine has a good safety record, and their side effects are generally mild and do not last for more than a few days. Your safety will always come first and there are rigorous safety standards that have to be met through the approval process.
- As with any medicine, vaccines are highly regulated products. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the official UK regulator are globally recognised for requiring the highest standards of safety, quality and effectiveness for medicines and vaccines.
- There are checks at every stage in the development and manufacturing process. Vaccines are tested on tens of thousands of people across the world. They are tested on both men and women, on people from different ethnic backgrounds, and of all age groups.
Should I get the vaccines if I think I have already had flu?
- If you think you’ve already had flu once you’ve recovered you should still get the vaccines as they will still help protect you.
Is there anyone that shouldn’t get the vaccine?
- Almost everybody can have the vaccine, but you should not be vaccinated if you have ever had a serious allergy (e.g. anaphylaxis) to the flu vaccine, or any of their ingredients – you should discuss this with your doctor or pharmacist.
- If you are allergic to eggs you may not be able to have certain types of flu vaccine – check with your immuniser. If you have a fever, the vaccination may be delayed until you are better.