The NHS has issued a ‘flu SOS’ with flu cases rising a month earlier than previous seasons. Flu cases are rising rapidly and some predictions point to this shaping up to be the worst flu season in a decade. The flu vaccine helps protect those most vulnerable from developing serious illness and being hospitalised.

Christmas/winter is just around the corner which is when more people are likely to become ill with flu as we spend more time indoors. The flu vaccine takes two weeks to become fully effective so you need to come forward now in order to be protected in time for the festive season.

Those eligible includes those:

• aged 65 and over
• aged 6 months to 64 years old with certain long term health conditions 4
• aged 2 and 3 year olds
• school aged children (Reception to Year 11)
• pregnant women
• frontline health and social care workers
• people who live in a care home
• people who are the main carer for an older or disabled person, or receive a carer's allowance
• people who live with someone who has a weakened immune system

Don’t put it off, book your flu vaccine appointment today and arm yourself against the risk of severe illness over the festive period

If you are eligible, you can book your vaccine via the NHS App, visit nhs.uk/BookFlu, call 119, or contact your GP practice or pharmacy.

Or check visit our vaccination van at a location near you - no appointment needed!

Winter COVID-19 vaccinations have ended.

The Spring COVID-19 vaccination offer is free for those eligible and will run from 13^th April 2026 to 30^th June 2026.

Inter-seasonal Year-round COVID-19 Vaccination Access

You may be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine if you have a weakened immune system because of a health condition or treatment.

Individuals who have severe immunosuppression may be at high risk of severe COVID-19 and less able to sustain any protection from previous vaccination or exposure.

This can include if you:

• are aged 6 months and over and have a health condition or are receiving treatment that severely weakens their immune system outside of a seasonal COVID-19 vaccination campaign require revaccination following Chimeric Antigen Receptors Cell Therapy
• (CAR-T) or stem cell transplantation and recovery.
• have or had blood cancer, such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma
• have had an organ transplant, bone marrow transplant or stem cell transplant
• are having or recently had chemotherapy, biological therapy or radiotherapy

This list is a summary and does not include everything. Speak to your local pharmacy, GP surgery or specialist if you're not sure if you're eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.

If you do not know where COVID-19 Vaccinations are available, please contact your GP, consultant or specialist nurse for more information.

The RSV vaccine helps protect against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a common virus that can make babies and older adults seriously ill.

You can get a free RSV vaccination on the NHS if:

• you're 28 weeks pregnant or more – the vaccine is recommended during every pregnancy to help protect your baby after they're born
• you're aged 75 to 79
• you turned 80 years old after 1 September 2025.