NHS England » NHS kicks off winter vaccine roll out with flu jabs for kids and pregnant ladies

Millions of kids and pregnant ladies are set to get their flu vaccinations from at the moment, because the NHS kicks off its very important autumn vaccine roll out to guard folks forward of winter.

Vaccine groups throughout the nation are ramping up efforts to make it as straightforward as attainable for these eligible to get their jabs, together with household drop-in clinics locally.

For the primary time as a part of the nationwide drive to get extra youngsters protected, faculty immunisation groups in some areas shall be providing flu vaccines to 2- to 3-year-olds in nurseries with this anticipated to roll out extra extensively.

Expectant mums and all youngsters aged two to 16 years are eligible for the flu vaccine, with this increasing to these aged six months to 18 years in medical threat teams.

Most school-aged youngsters will obtain their flu vaccinations in school, however youthful youngsters and those that miss their faculty or nursery session also can get the vaccine at their GP follow or at a neighborhood clinic.

Pregnant ladies ought to converse to their maternity group to obtain the flu jab at their scheduled maternity appointments, or by contacting their native GP follow or a pharmacy.

From at the moment the NHS National Booking System additionally opens for all eligible people to e book their winter flu and COVID-19 vaccinations, with appointments ranging from Wednesday 1 October.

The flu vaccine is estimated to have prevented round 100,000 folks from being hospitalised in England final winter by serving to shield these in danger from getting critically sick, notably in the course of the colder months when folks collect indoors and viruses unfold.

Despite this, there have been greater than 300,000 hospital mattress days taken up by sufferers with flu final winter – nearly double the earlier winter (175,062 in 2023-24) and near 50% increased than the yr earlier than (216,120 in 2022-23) – including strain to NHS companies in the course of the busy interval.

The NHS is sending out tens of millions of invites this month to remind eligible folks to come back ahead as quickly as they will, however they don’t want to attend for an invite to e book. Those eligible can e book rapidly and simply on the NHS website, NHS App or by calling 119.

Dr Amanda Doyle, National Director for Primary Care and Community Services at NHS England, stated: “The risk from getting critically sick from flu and COVID-19 is all too actual and every year we see a whole lot of hundreds of individuals hospitalised as a result of these nasty viruses – particularly throughout the winter months.

“Vaccination is our greatest defence in opposition to these viruses and may be lifesaving – so I’d urge mums-to-be, mother and father of younger youngsters and youths, and others who’re eligible to come back ahead or e book appointments for his or her jabs as quickly attainable, to assist shield themselves and family members.

“Flu and covid vaccines are free to those at greatest risk and teams across the country are working hard to make it as quick and easy as possible to get them via local GP practices, pharmacies, in schools and other community clinics, so please do book an appointment today – it could keep you out of hospital this winter.”

This yr, COVID-19 vaccinations can be found to adults aged 75 and over, older grownup care house residents, and people who find themselves immunosuppressed.

As nicely as youngsters and pregnant ladies, from October the flu vaccination is being provided to everybody aged 65 and over, below 65s in medical threat teams, care house residents and carers, shut contacts of those that are immunosuppressed, frontline social care employees, and well being and social care employees.

For adults eligible for each vaccines the NHS will make flu and COVID-19 jabs accessible on the similar time, offering safety from each viruses in a single go to.

Minister of State for Care Stephen Kinnock stated: “We’re taking motion now to guard probably the most susceptible and construct our defences earlier than seasonal viruses take maintain.

“Last winter confirmed us the numerous influence the flu vaccination programme has with over 100,000 hospitalisations prevented, defending sufferers from illness and the NHS from winter pressures.

“I urge all eligible families to come forward as soon as possible. Getting vaccinated now means you’ll be protected before peak flu season hits.”

Appointments for COVID-19 vaccinations shall be accessible till Friday 30 January 2026, with flu jabs provided till the tip of March 2026, in step with the everyday seasons for the viruses.

Those eligible are being urged to take up the supply as quickly as they will to make sure safety forward of the height winter virus season, with proof from UKHSA suggesting the flu season normally peaks in December and January. This means beginning grownup vaccinations from October will guarantee these most in danger are protected in the course of the colder months when folks collect indoors and viruses unfold.

Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal, Consultant Epidemiologist for Immunisation at UKHSA stated: “If you are eligible for a flu vaccine it is because you are at greater risk of getting seriously ill. Pregnant women and all children aged two to 16 are eligible for the flu vaccine and should get protected every year. When children take up the vaccination, it not only helps protect them. It also, importantly, helps to stop them spreading flu to others at greater risk, such as their grandparents or younger siblings. It takes around two weeks to get optimum protection once vaccinated, so book an appointment now.”

Last winter NHS companies skilled a mixture of seasonal viruses together with COVID-19, flu, norovirus and RSV, which is why final month the NHS issued a name for pregnant ladies to come back ahead for his or her RSV jabs to assist shield their infants due this winter in opposition to respiratory viruses.

The RSV vaccine was provided to pregnant ladies and older adults in England for the primary time final September and has now helped to guard greater than two million eligible folks because the rollout kicked off.

Kate Brintworth, Chief Midwifery Officer for NHS England, stated: “Getting vaccinated whereas pregnant is one of the simplest ways to guard your child from the second they’re born, because it passes on that further safety to them and helps preserve you secure throughout being pregnant.

“Vaccinations in opposition to flu, whooping cough and RSV are really useful by the NHS for pregnant ladies and are confirmed to be secure for moms and infants.

“With flu jabs available from today for women at any stage of their pregnancy, now is the time for mums to act to make sure their babies are protected ahead of their first few months this winter, with whooping cough vaccines available from 20 weeks and RSV from 28 weeks.”

Pregnant mums from 28 weeks onwards can entry the RSV jab by means of their maternity companies, or alongside older adults aged 75, by way of their native GP follow or one of many over 120 neighborhood pharmacies delivering the vaccines within the North West, East of England and the Midlands.

The RSV vaccine is delivered year-round and may be given concurrently the COVID-19 vaccine, however it is strongly recommended to be given individually to the flu vaccine for larger effectiveness.

Background

Based on scientific recommendation from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), these eligible for a flu vaccination this Autumn/Winter embrace:

From 1 September 2025:

• pregnant ladies
• all youngsters aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2025
• main faculty aged youngsters (from Reception to Year 6)
• secondary faculty aged youngsters (from Year 7 to Year 11)
• all youngsters in medical threat teams aged from 6 months to lower than 18 years

From 1 October 2025:

• these aged 65 years and over
• these aged 18 years to below 65 years in medical threat teams (as outlined within the Influenza chapter of the Green Book)
• these in long-stay residential care properties
• carers in receipt of carer’s allowance, or those that are the principle carer of an aged or disabled individual
• shut contacts of immunocompromised people
• frontline employees in a social care setting with out an employer led occupational well being scheme together with these working for a registered residential care or nursing house, registered domiciliary care suppliers, voluntary managed hospice suppliers and people which might be employed by those that obtain direct funds (private budgets) or Personal Health budgets, reminiscent of Personal Assistants

Health and social care employees may also be provided a flu vaccine from their organisation from 1 October 2025, with a number of handy choices to get vaccinated based mostly round working and shift patterns.

This yr’s autumn COVID-19 vaccination programme will run from 1 October 2025 to 31 January 2026 and people eligible embrace:

• adults aged 75 years and over
• residents in a care house for older adults
• people aged 6 months and over who’re immunosuppressed (as outlined within the COVID-19 chapter of the Green Book)