Flu and COVID-19 Vaccinations 2023/24

Flu and COVID-19 vaccine eligibility

Resources

Flu vaccine eligibility:

Children: aged 2 and 3 years old; primary and secondary school children up to year 11; children aged 6 months and over with certain health conditions

Adults: People aged 65 years or over; long-stay residential care home residents, pregnant women, people with certain health conditions; frontline health and care workers, unpaid carers, people who live with  someone with a weakened immune system.

Covid-19 vaccine eligibility:

People aged 65 years and over; people in a care home for older adults; children aged 6 months and over in a clinical risk group; frontline health and social care workers; young people aged 12 to 64 years who live with someone with a weakened immune system; carers aged 16 to 64 years.

Benefits of getting vaccinated

Vaccinations are our best defence against flu and Covid-19. If you are vaccinated and catch flu or Covid-19 this winter, you are likely to have milder symptoms and recover faster, cutting your risk of being hospitalised.

Key messages

Protecting children and young people

Flu vaccine for school-aged children is offered in schools and community venues.

Children aged 2-3 years or with certain health conditions can also get the flu vaccine at their GP practice.

Painless nasal spray vaccine is available for most children aged two years and over. Babies and children aged 6 months to 2 years with certain health conditions will be offered a flu vaccine injection instead of the nasal spray.

Both are safe and effective and can protect your child from flu this winter.

Pregnant women

Flu and COVID-19 vaccines protect pregnant women and their baby at any stage of the pregnancy, it is the most effective way to stay safe this winter.

Pregnant women can get flu vaccine through their GP, it may also be available from your pharmacist or midwife.

Booking information available at www.nhs.uk/seasonalvaccinations

Health and Social Care workers  

Vaccination reduces the spread of flu among staff and the people you care for, helping to keep care services running and reducing the burden on the NHS during the winter.

If vaccine is not provided by employers, health and social care workers can book their vaccine with their GP or use the national booking service; walk-in vaccination centres may also be available.  Proof of your employment at your local GP or pharmacy might be required.

                                      Vulnerable/At Risk Groups

If you have certain underlying health conditions, are 65 years-old and over, or are pregnant you are eligible for both a flu and COVID-19 vaccine.

Vaccinations are also offered to people who live with someone with a weakened immune system and carers of vulnerable people.

You can check your eligibility and book online at http://www.nhs.uk/wintervaccinations

Social media campaign

NHS/UKHSA social media campaigns materials for promotion of flu/COVID-19 vaccinations are available via Winter Vaccinations Public Facing Campaign | Winter vaccinations | Campaign Resource Centre (dhsc.gov.uk)

These include all the high resolution images used in this brief, videos, static images and gifs which can be shared on different platforms.