Covid-19 and flu vaccinations

Covid-19 is still with us and people can still become very ill. Having a booster vaccination will ensure you continue to have the best protection against coronavirus through the winter months. The NHS is inviting eligible people to come forward when it’s their turn.

The flu vaccine is offered to people most at risk of getting seriously ill from flu or who are most likely to pass flu to other people at risk.

This year, the free vaccine will be offered to those most at risk from flu first. From mid-October, people aged 50-64 that aren’t in a clinical risk group will also be able to get a free flu vaccine. If you are in this age group, wait until mid-October before booking an appointment with your GP practice or a local community pharmacy so those most at risk can get their vaccine first.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines are safe and effective. They give you the best protection against COVID-19.

The flu vaccine is a safe and effective vaccine. It’s offered every year on the NHS to help protect people at risk of getting seriously ill from flu.

Launch of the autumn Covid-19 booster programme

This autumn the NHS is offering an autumn booster Covid-19 vaccination to people who are:

• Residents in care homes for older people
• People aged 50 years and older (currently people aged 65 and over are eligible)
• Pregnant
• Aged 5 and over and at high risk due to a health condition
• Aged 5 and over and at high risk because of a weakened immune system
• Aged 5 and over and lives with someone who has a weakened immune system
• Aged 16 and over and is a carer
• A frontline health and social care worker

People can book a vaccine online or by calling 119. The appointment dates you will be offered will start from 3 months (91 days) after your previous dose.

• Visits to care homes have already started and are currently underway across Sussex.
• Everyone aged 5 and over can get a 1st and 2nd dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
• People aged 16 and over, and some children aged 12 to 15, can also get a booster dose.
• People aged 12 and over who had a severely weakened immune system when they had their first 2 doses, will be offered a 3rd dose and a booster (4th dose).

Flu vaccinations

The flu vaccine is offered to people most at risk of getting seriously ill from flu or who are most likely to pass flu to other people at risk.

This year, the free vaccine will be offered to those most at risk from flu first. This includes younger children, older people (65 years and over), those in clinical risk groups and pregnant women.

From mid-October 2022, people aged 50-64 years old that aren’t in a clinical risk group, will also be able to get a free flu vaccine. If you are in this age group, wait until mid-October before booking an appointment with your GP practice or a local community pharmacy so those most at risk can get their vaccine first.

Some secondary school aged children will be offered a flu vaccine by the local school-aged immunisation provider service, most likely later in the season. If your child is in a clinical risk group please contact your GP if you would like your child to receive the vaccine earlier in the season.

Anyone eligible for either a flu or COVID-19 vaccine is encouraged to take up the vaccine as soon as possible, to give themselves the best possible protection this winter.

1st and 2nd Covid-19 vaccinations

Everyone aged 5 and over can still get a 1st and 2nd dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

People aged 16 and over, and some children aged 12 to 15, can also get a booster dose.

• Book your COVID-19 vaccination appointments online or by calling 119 free of charge
• Book your appointment directly with your GP-led local vaccination service when they contact you
• Find a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination session where you can get vaccinated without needing an appointment (not currently available for 5-11 year olds)
• Have your vaccination at home if you are registered as housebound with your GP practice
• Have your vaccination at your care home if you are a resident.

If you call 119, you can speak to a translator if you need to. If you have difficulties communicating or hearing, or are a British Sign Language (BSL) user, you can use textphone 18001 119 or the NHS 119 BSL interpreter service.

Contact the Vaccine Enquiries Team

To contact the Vaccine Enquiries Team, email sxicb.vaccineenquiries@nhs.net or call the vaccine enquiry phone line: 0800 433 4545 (open 9am – 4pm, Monday to Friday).

See the privacy notice for information about how data is used. Note that they cannot book a vaccination appointment for you – wait to be contacted.