Protect yourself this winter. Get your flu and COVID-19 vaccinations. ‘Get winter strong’
For some, flu and COVID-19 are unpleasant. But for many, particularly those with certain health conditions, older people and pregnant women, they can be very dangerous and even life-threatening. Every winter, thousands die from flu and people can still get very ill or die from COVID-19. Catching both viruses over winter increases the risk of serious illness even further.
Vaccines are our best protection against flu and COVID-19. Over the last few years they have kept tens of thousands of people out of hospital and helped to save countless lives. In winter, flu and COVID-19 spread 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’.
In line with expert advice, the NHS will offer flu and COVID-19 vaccines to those at greater risk of serious illness this winter. Those who can get both vaccines through the NHS will include everyone aged 65 and over, pregnant women, care home residents, people with certain health conditions, frontline health and care staff, unpaid carers and household contacts of those at higher risk.
The flu vaccine is also offered to most children including all aged 2 and 3 years old, school aged children from reception to year 11 and those aged 6 months to 17 years old with certain health conditions. The vaccine is usually given as a quick and painless spray up the nose.
Children have been prioritised to get the flu vaccine from September to protect them and help stop the virus spreading to others. 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. Children aged 5 and over with certain health conditions will be able to get the COVID-19 vaccine from 7 October.
Adults can get their flu and COVID-19 vaccines from October, starting in care homes from 2 October and opening up to all adults from 7 October (national bookings will open from 2 October). Pregnant women can be vaccinated against flu as soon as the vaccine becomes available in September to protect mother and baby.
It is important to top up your protection, even if you have had a vaccine or been ill with flu or COVID-19 before, as immunity fades over time and these viruses change each year.
Both vaccines have a good safety record. Their side-effects are generally mild and do not last for more than a few days.
We encourage you to get both vaccines in the same visit where possible, to get protected against both viruses in just a few minutes. If this is not possible, it is better to get each vaccine as soon as you can rather than waiting.
If eligible, you can book a flu vaccine through your GP practice, local pharmacy, by downloading the NHS App or at www.nhs.uk/book-a-flu-vaccination. School-aged children will get their flu vaccine through schools and community venues and pregnant women may also be able to get the vaccine through their maternity services to help protect themselves and their baby.
Seasonal COVID-19 vaccinations are available through the NHS App or at www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination, which also allow those eligible to book both vaccines in one appointment. If you can’t get online, the free 119 number can make bookings for you at the same sites.
Protect yourself this winter. Get your flu and COVID-19 vaccinations. ‘Get winter strong’.
You can find out more information about both vaccines by visiting www.nhs.uk/flujab and www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccine.