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Seasonal vaccines
Covid-19 boosters
If you are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination the NHS will be in touch. Read more about other vaccines: Immunisation and vaccination
Eligible groups:
- anyone aged 65 years and over
- residents in a care home for older adults
- anyone aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group (as defined in tables 3 or 4 here)
- frontline NHS and social care workers, and those working in care homes for older people
Read more: COVID-19 services – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Flu
The flu vaccine is offered on the NHS every year in autumn or early winter to help protect people at risk of flu and its complications.
If you do catch the flu, your GP may not prescribe antibiotics as they do not work for viral infections like the flu. Also, antibiotics won’t relieve symptoms or speed up your recovery.
Eligible groups:
- adults aged 65 or over
- those with certain long-term health conditions
- those who are pregnant
- those living in a care home
- people who are the main carer for an older or disabled person, or receive a carer’s allowance
- anyone living with someone with a weakened immune system
- children aged 2 or 3 years
- school-aged children (Reception to Year 11)
- children aged 6 months to 17 years with certain long-term health conditions
Read more: Flu vaccine – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Pneumococcal vaccination
The pneumococcal vaccine helps protect against serious illnesses such as pneumonia and meningitis. It’s recommended for people at higher risk of these illnesses, such as babies and adults aged 65 and over.
The pneumococcal vaccine helps protect against some types of bacterial infections that can cause serious illnesses, including:
- meningitis (an infection in the brain and spinal cord)
- sepsis (a life-threatening reaction to an infection)
- pneumonia (an infection in the lungs)
It can also help protect against other illnesses such as sinusitis and ear infections.
The pneumococcal vaccine can only been given by a healthcare professional at your GP surgery. They will usually contact you if you or your child are eligible for the pneumococcal vaccine.
Eligible groups:
You are at higher risk of getting seriously ill from pneumococcal infections if you have:
- a long-term condition that affects your breathing such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or cystic fibrosis
- a long-term condition that affects your heart such as coronary heart disease or heart failure
- chronic kidney disease
- a long-term condition that affects your liver such as cirrhosis
- diabetes
- a weakened immune system due to a condition such as HIV, or a treatment such as steroid medicine or chemotherapy
- a condition where fluid that protects the brain and spinal cord leaks out (cerebrospinal fluid leaks)
- sickle cell disease, problems with your spleen or you have had your spleen removed
- cochlear implants
Read more: Pneumococcal vaccine – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Vaccination for those newly diagnosed as immunosuppressed or at risk out of seasonal Covid-19 vaccine programmes.
If you are diagnosed as immunosuppressed or at risk, you may receive a Covid-19 vaccine out of the seasonal booster programme.
Eligibility criteria:
- Immunosuppression due to disease or treatment, including patients undergoing chemotherapy leading to immunosuppression, patients undergoing radical radiotherapy, solid organ transplant recipients, bone marrow or stem cell transplant recipients, HIV infection at all stages, multiple myeloma or genetic disorders affecting the immune system (e.g. IRAK-4, NEMO, complement disorder, SCID).
- Individuals who are receiving immunosuppressive or immunomodulating biological therapy including, but not limited to, anti-TNF, alemtuzumab, ofatumumab, rituximab, patients receiving protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors, and individuals treated with steroid sparing agents such as cyclophosphamide and mycophenolate mofetil.
- Individuals treated with or likely to be treated with systemic steroids for more than a month at a dose equivalent to prednisolone at 20mg or more per day for adults.
- Anyone with a history of haematological malignancy, including leukaemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. Those who require long term immunosuppressive treatment for conditions including, but not limited to, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, scleroderma and psoriasis.
Types of Covid-19 vaccine
| Vaccine | Suitable for | Where to get vaccine |
|---|---|---|
|
Comirnaty 30 |
Eligible young people age 12-18 years old |
Most sites including pharmacies, GP clinics, and walk-in clinics |
|
Spikevax |
Eligible people aged 18 and over |
Most sites including pharmacies, GP clinics, and walk-in clinics |
|
Comirnaty 10 |
Eligible children in a clinical risk group age 5-11 years old |
Specific types approved to give this vaccine type. GPs, pharmacies, hospitals, and other approved clinics. |
|
Comirnaty 3 |
Eligible children in a clinical risk group aged 6 months to 4 years old |
Specific types approved to give this vaccine type. GPs, pharmacies, hospitals, and other approved clinics. |
|
Patients who have had allergic reactions to covid vaccines should consult their GP who will assess them for referral to a specialist clinic where they can receive the standard vaccine under appropriate clinical conditions. See advice provided in Table 5 of the Green Book. |
||
Useful links
- More about routine vaccinations: Immunisation and vaccination
- Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation guidance: COVID-19 Greenbook chapter 14a
- Covid-19 vaccine side effects and safety: COVID-19 vaccines side effects and safety
- Getting a vaccination: Getting a COVID-19 vaccine
