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Winter vaccinations and winter health

There are some things you can do to help yourself stay well in winter. This includes getting your flu and COVID-19 vaccinations.

Flu vaccine

Getting your flu vaccine every year, if you're eligible, tops up your protection and reduces your risk of getting severe symptoms.

Who should have the flu vaccine

Adults at higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu, and most children are eligible for the flu vaccine.

Adults who should have the flu vaccine

You can get the free NHS flu vaccine if you:

  • are aged 65 or over (including those who will be 65 by 31 March 2026)
  • have certain long-term health conditions
  • are pregnant
  • live in a care home
  • are the main carer for an older or disabled person, or receive a carer's allowance
  • live with someone who has a weakened immune system

Frontline health and social care workers can also get a flu vaccine through their employer.

Health conditions that mean you're eligible for the flu vaccine

The flu vaccine is recommended for people with certain long-term health conditions, including:

  • conditions that affect your breathing, such as asthma (needing a steroid inhaler or tablets), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or cystic fibrosis
  • heart conditions, such as coronary heart disease or heart failure
  • chronic kidney disease
  • liver disease, such as cirrhosis or hepatitis
  • some conditions that affect your brain or nerves, such as Parkinson's disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy
  • diabetes or Addison's disease
  • a weakened immune system due to a condition such as HIV or AIDS, or due to a treatment such as chemotherapy or steroid medicine
  • problems with your spleen, such as sickle cell disease, or if you've had your spleen removed
  • a learning disability
  • being very overweight – a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or above

Speak to your GP surgery or specialist if you have a health condition and you're not sure if you're eligible for the flu vaccine.

Children who should have the flu vaccine

The children's flu vaccine is recommended for:

  • children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2025 (born between 1 September 2021 and 31 August 2023)
  • school-aged children (Reception to Year 11)
  • children aged 6 months to 17 years with certain long-term health conditions

Health conditions that mean your child is eligible for the children's flu vaccine

It's important for children with certain long-term health conditions to have the flu vaccine every year.

This includes children aged 6 months to 17 years who have:

  • conditions that affect their breathing, such as asthma (needing a steroid inhaler or tablets) or cystic fibrosis
  • had a lung or airways infection in the past that meant they needed to stay overnight in hospital
  • serious heart conditions
  • kidney or liver disease
  • some conditions that affect their brain or nerves, such as cerebral palsy
  • diabetes
  • a weakened immune system due to a condition or treatment, such as HIV or AIDS, chemotherapy or steroid medicine
  • problems with their spleen, such as sickle cell disease, or if they've had their spleen removed
  • a learning disability

When your child turns 18, they will be eligible for the injected flu vaccine for adults.

If your child has a health condition and you're not sure if they're eligible for the flu vaccine, speak to their GP surgery or specialist.

How to get the flu vaccine

If you're eligible for an NHS flu vaccine, you can:

Some people may be able to get vaccinated through their maternity service or care home, or through their employer if they're a frontline health or social care worker.

Most school-aged children (Reception to Year 11) get their flu vaccine at school.

The last date you will be able to get your flu vaccine is 31 March 2026, but it's best to get vaccinated sooner to protect yourself during winter. Online booking will close on 30 March 2026.

Frontline health or social care workers

Frontline health and social care workers should get the flu vaccine through their employer.

If you cannot get a flu vaccine through your employer, you can get it at a pharmacy or your GP surgery if you're employed:

  • by a registered residential care or nursing home
  • by a registered domiciliary care provider
  • by a voluntary managed hospice provider
  • through direct payments or personal health budgets
Information:

Find out more

COVID-19 vaccine

Getting your COVID-19 vaccine every year, if you're eligible, tops up your protection and reduces your risk of getting severe symptoms.

Who should have the COVID-19 vaccine

You can get the winter COVID-19 vaccine if you:

  • are aged 75 or over (including those who will be 75 by 31 January 2026)
  • are aged 6 months to 74 years and have a weakened immune system because of a health condition or treatment
  • live in a care home for older adults
Health conditions and treatments that mean you're eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine

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

This can include if you:

  • have or had blood cancer, such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma
  • have had an organ transplant, bone marrow transplant or stem cell transplant
  • have HIV
  • have a genetic disorder that affects your immune system, such as severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID)
  • are having or recently had chemotherapy, biological therapy or radiotherapy
  • are taking steroid medicine (depending on the dose)
  • are having long-term immunosuppressive treatment for a condition such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), scleroderma or psoriasis

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.

How to get the COVID-19 vaccine

If you're eligible for the winter COVID-19 vaccine, you can:

Some people may be able to get vaccinated at a local service, such as a community pharmacy or a GP surgery, or at a care home if they live in a care home.

You do not need to wait for an invitation before booking an appointment.

The last date you will be able to get your COVID-19 vaccine is 31 January 2026. Online booking will close on 30 January 2026.

Information:

Find out more

Other vaccinations

You may also be eligible for other vaccinations, including the:

These vaccinations help protect against serious illnesses that are more common in the winter, including pneumonia.

Who's most at risk from cold weather?

Some people are more vulnerable to the effects of cold weather. This includes:

  • people aged 65 and older
  • babies and children under the age of 5
  • people on a low income (so cannot afford heating)
  • people who have a long-term health condition
  • people with a disability
  • pregnant women
  • people who have a mental health condition

Get advice if you feel unwell

If you're 65 or over, or in one of the other at-risk groups, it's important to get medical help as soon as you feel unwell.

You can get help and advice from:

  • a pharmacy – pharmacists can give treatment advice for a range of minor illnesses and can tell you if you need to see a doctor
  • your GP – you may be able to speak to a GP online or over the phone, or go in for an appointment if they think you need to
  • NHS 111 – go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111 if you have an urgent medical problem and you are not sure what to do

The sooner you get advice, the sooner you're likely to get better.

In an emergency, go to A&E immediately or call 999.

Keep warm and get help with heating

Keeping warm over the winter months can help to prevent colds, flu and more serious health problems such as heart attacks, strokes, pneumonia and depression.

Heat your home to a temperature that's comfortable for you. If you can, this should be at least 18°C in the rooms that you regularly use, such as your living room and bedroom. This is particularly important if you have a health condition. It's best to keep your bedroom windows closed at night.

Check your heating and cooking appliances are safe. Contact a Gas Safe registered engineer to make sure they're working properly. You can find an engineer from the Gas Safe Register website.

Make sure your home is fire safe. For fire safety advice specific to you and your home, visit the online home fire safety check website to complete a safety check for your home.

Make sure you're getting all the help that you're entitled to. There are grants, benefits and advice available to make your home more energy efficient, improve your heating or help with bills.

Find out more about ways to save energy in your home from GOV.UK, or call the government helpline on 0800 444 202.

You can also find out more from GOV.UK about benefits and financial support if you're on a low income.

Look in on vulnerable neighbours and relatives

Remember that other people, such as older neighbours, friends and family members, may need some extra help over the winter. There's a lot you can do to help people who need support.

Icy pavements and roads can be very slippery, and cold weather can stop people from going out.

Keep in touch with your friends, neighbours and family and ask if they need any practical help, or if they're feeling unwell.

Make sure they're stocked up with enough food supplies for a few days, in case they cannot go out.

If they do need to go out in the cold, encourage them to wear shoes with a good grip and a scarf around the mouth to protect them from cold air, and to reduce their risk of chest infections.

Make sure they get any prescription medicines before the holiday period starts and if bad weather is forecast.

If they need help over the holiday period when the GP surgery or pharmacy is closed or they're not sure what to do, go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111.

If you're worried about a relative or elderly neighbour, contact your local council or call the Age UK helpline on 0800 678 1602 (8am to 7pm every day). You can find your local council on GOV.UK.

If you're concerned the person may have hypothermia, go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111.

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Page last reviewed: 1 September 2025
Next review due: 16 November 2025