Flu & COVID-19 vaccination

The NHS in the South East of England is working hard to deliver a safe and effective Flu and Covid-19 autumn booster vaccination programme this year, to give people the best possible protection ahead of winter.

Coronavirus is still very much with us and making people ill every day. And, as we head into autumn and winter, flu presents further dangers. Experts have advised that those at greater risk will need extra protection this winter.

For Covid-19 and flu, everyone aged 50 and over, people with certain health conditions that put them at risk, frontline health and care staff, carers and pregnant women will be offered a booster and the flu vaccination. Both vaccines can be given on the same day and some people might get both vaccines at the same time. However, this may not always be possible, so we will be encouraging everybody to get each vaccination as soon as they can, rather than waiting to get both at the same time.

In addition, the flu vaccination will be offered to young children, primary school aged and some secondary school.

It is important to note that there will be a phased roll-out of the vaccinations to all eligible cohorts to help manage risk, demand and supply.

Those eligible for the booster should have it at least 3 months after their last dose of the vaccine.

As a result of non-pharmaceutical interventions in place for COVID-19 (such as mask-wearing, reduced social interactions and international travel), influenza (flu) activity levels were extremely low across the globe in 2020 to 2021. However, with social contact having returned to pre-pandemic norms, there is likely to be a resurgence in activity this winter (22/23) to levels similar to or higher than before the pandemic.

The potential for co-circulation of influenza, Covid-19 and other respiratory viruses could add substantially to pressures in the NHS, by addition, or by prolongation of the overall period for which respiratory viruses circulate in sequence. To support the latter, we will also be supporting the South East Clinical Network’s respiratory campaign #ProtectYourLungs this Winter which launched in October.