Winter is a critical time for vaccination against Flu and COVID-19, as these illnesses pose significant health risks to individuals and communities.

These vaccinations, available from 3 October, provide vital protection to keep people from developing serious illnesses and ending up in hospital during busy winter months.

This year, based on the latest scientific evidence, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommended adults aged 65 and over, residents in older adult care homes and those with underlying health conditions aged 6 months to 64 years will be eligible for flu and COVID-19 vaccinations.

The Government has also decided that, as in previous years, the COVID-19 and flu vaccines will be offered to frontline health and social care staff, with staff in older adult care homes being offered the COVID-19 jab.

Vaccinations in Bury:

Eligible people will begin receiving invitations from the NHS to get their jabs, while GP practices and other local NHS services will also be contacting people to offer both vaccines. The flu vaccine can also be booked by searching online for a local pharmacy.

Flu season usually peaks in December and January, so starting adult vaccinations from October will ensure those most at risk are protected during the colder months when people gather indoors and viruses spread.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

For the first time, the NHS is also offering free vaccines from September 2024 for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a common cause of coughs and colds which can be dangerous to older people and young children.

Those eligible for a free RSV vaccine are:

• those aged 75 to 79

• pregnant people from 28 weeks, to protect their child

It is hoped this year’s vaccination campaigns will help avoid a “tripledemic” of RSV, covid and flu colliding during an already busy time for frontline staff.

For those adults eligible for both flu and COVID-19 vaccines, the NHS will make them available at the same time, giving the option to get protection from both viruses in one visit. However, it is more effective for people to have the RSV vaccination on a different day from any flu or COVID-19 vaccinations.

Flu vaccinations for children started in September for the new school year, to help stop the virus spreading, and pregnant women have been able to get their jab from 1 September. 

It takes just a few minutes to book online or via the NHS App or 119 to protect themselves and people around them.

The nasal flu vaccine is the most effective vaccine for children aged 2-17 years but if this is not suitable the GP or practice nurse may be able to offer a flu vaccine injection as an alternative.

Those eligible for a free flu vaccine are:

• those aged 65 years and over

• those aged 18 years to under 65 years in clinical risk groups (as defined by the Green Book)

• those in long-stay residential care homes

• carers in receipt of carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person

• close contacts of immunocompromised individuals

• frontline workers in a social care setting without an employer led occupational health scheme including those working for a registered residential care or nursing home, registered domiciliary care providers, voluntary managed hospice providers and those that are employed by Those who receive direct payments (personal budgets) or Personal Health budgets, such as Personal Assistants.

Those eligible for a free autumn Covid booster are:

• residents in a care home for older adults

• all adults aged 65 years and over

• persons aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group, as defined in the Green Book, including pregnant women

• frontline health and social care workers and staff in care homes for older adults

• pregnant women

• all children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2024

• primary school aged children (from Reception to Year 6)

• secondary school aged children (from Year 7 to Year 11)

• all children in clinical risk groups aged from 6 months to less than 18 years

Pneumococcal vaccine

The pneumococcal vaccine helps protect against serious illnesses like pneumonia and meningitis. It's recommended for people at higher risk of these illnesses.

Those eligible for pneumococcal vaccine are:

• babies  - 1st dose at 12 weeks and a booster dose at 1 year

• adults aged 65 and over  - 1 dose when at 65

• children over 10 years and adults under 65 years who are eligible for a flu jab are also likely to be eligible for the pneumococcal vaccination due to the higher risk of getting seriously ill.  See Who's at higher risk of getting seriously ill

Contact your GP surgery if you or your child have missed a pneumococcal vaccination. Find out more information here.

You can get the pneumococcal vaccine at the same time as other vaccines, such as the flu and COVID-19 vaccine.