Winter vaccinations – what can I have and how do I book?

As winter approaches, vaccinations are one of the best ways to help people stay protected throughout the season.

Thank you for staying on track with your vaccinations, you’re protecting yourself and your community.

Flu vaccination

The following people can have their flu vaccination:

• pregnant women
• all children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2024
• school aged children and young people (from Reception to Year 11)
• all children in clinical risk groups aged from 6 months to less than 18 years
• people with a learning disability
• those aged 65 years and over, (including those due to turn 65 of years on or before 31 March 2025)

• those aged 18 years to under 65 years in clinical risk groups (as defined by the Green Book, Influenza Chapter 19)
• those in a care home
• 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 health and care workers

Getting your flu vaccination:

• Contact your general practice surgery – most practices have an online form or email as well as phone or face-to-face booking options
• Visit the NHS national booking website, or via the NHS app for pharmacy appointments
• You can also visit a walk in clinic, no booking required

Some people will be offered the vaccination through their care or nursing home.

For more information about the flu vaccinations, see the flu vaccination information page.

Children aged 2 and 3 can have the vaccination at their general practice surgery.

School aged children and young people can have the vaccination at school. The flu vaccination is a pain-free, squirt up the nose for children. See more on the dedicated Flu Fighters webpage.

Zeynep Turkoz from The Harvey Practice, Poole

COVID-19 vaccination

The following people can have the COVID-19 vaccination:

• those aged 65 years and over, (including those due to turn 65 of years on or before 31 March 2025)
• pregnant women
• are aged 6 months to 64 years and have an increased risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19 because of a health condition or treatment
• people who live in a care home for older adults
• Frontline health and care staff
• People with a learning disability

Getting your COVID-19 vaccination:

• Visit the NHS national booking website,  via the NHS app or call 119
• You can also visit a walk in clinic, no booking required

For more information about the COVID-19 vaccination, see the Dorset HealthCare COVID-19 information page.

Respiratory syncyial virus (RSV)

People between the ages of 75-79 or those who are pregnant are also able to have the new RSV vaccination.

If you should have the RSV vaccination, you will be contacted directly by the NHS. This might be by text message, letter or phone call.

You will be invited to either book an appointment, or you will be offered an appointment to attend. If you are unable to attend an appointment that is offered to you, please make contact to rearrange.

Please make sure your contact details are correct and up to date with your general practice surgery.

If you are pregnant you can also talk to your maternity team about this vital vaccination.

Zeynep Turkoz from The Harvey Practice, Poole

All other vaccinations