Vaccines are our best protection this winter

It’s easy for us to pass on COVID-19 or flu viruses without knowing.

This winter, there are two essential vaccines you’ll need to protect yourself and your loved ones.

1. Flu vaccine

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. The best time to have the flu vaccine is in the autumn or early winter before flu starts spreading. But you can get the vaccine later.

Flu vaccine and coronavirus (COVID-19)

Flu vaccination is important because: • More people are likely to get flu this winter as fewer people will have built up natural immunity to it during the COVID-19 pandemic • If you get flu and COVID-19 at the same time, research shows you’re more likely to be seriously ill • Getting vaccinated against flu and COVID-19 will provide protection for you and those around you for both these serious illnesses If you’ve had COVID-19, it’s safe to have the flu vaccine. It will still be effective at helping to prevent flu.

Who can have the flu vaccine?

The flu vaccine is given free on the NHS to people who: • Are 50 and over (including those who’ll be 50 by 31 March 2022) • Have certain health conditions • Are pregnant • Are in long-stay residential care • Receive a carer’s allowance, or are the main carer for an older or disabled person who may be at risk if you get sick • Live with someone who is more likely to get infections (such as someone who has HIV, has had a transplant or is having certain treatments for cancer, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis) • Frontline health or social care workers

Where to get the flu vaccine

You can get the NHS flu vaccine at: • Your GP surgery • A pharmacy offering the service If you do not have your flu vaccine at your GP surgery, you do not have to tell the surgery. This will be done for you. Do not attend your vaccination appointment if you have COVID-19 symptoms. The main symptoms are: • A high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature) • A new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual) • A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you’ve noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal

How effective is the flu vaccine?

The flu vaccine gives the best protection against flu. Flu vaccines help protect against the main types of flu viruses, although there’s still a chance you might get flu. If you do get flu after a vaccination, it’s likely to be milder and not last as long. Having the flu vaccine will also stop you spreading flu to other people who may be more at risk of serious problems like flu. It can take ten to 14 days for the flu vaccine to work.

Flu vaccine side effects

Flu vaccines are very safe. All adult flu vaccines are given by injection into the muscle of the upper arm. Most side effects are mild and only last for a day or so, such as: • slightly raised temperature • muscle aches • sore arm where the needle went in – this is more likely to happen with the vaccine for people aged 65 and over Try these tips to help reduce the discomfort: • continue to move your arm regularly • take a painkiller, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen – some people, including those who are pregnant, should not take ibuprofen unless a doctor recommends it

2. COVID-19 booster vaccination

Some people may be eligible for both the flu and the COVID-19 booster vaccines. A COVID-19 booster vaccine will improve the protection you have from your first two doses of the vaccine and helps give longer-term protection against getting seriously ill from COVID-19. If you are offered both vaccines, it’s safe to have them at the same time.

Who can get a COVID-19 booster vaccine?

Booster vaccine doses will be available on the NHS for people most at risk from COVID-19 who have had a second dose of a vaccine at least six months ago. This includes: • People aged 50 and over • People who live and work in care homes • Frontline health and social care workers • People aged 16 and over with a health condition that puts them at high risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19 • People aged 16 and over who are a main carer for someone at high risk from COVID-19 • People aged 16 and over who live with someone who is more likely to get infections (such as someone who has HIV, has had a transplant or is having certain treatments for cancer, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis)

How and when to get your COVID-19 booster vaccine

You’ll be offered a booster dose at least six months after you had your second dose. The NHS will let you know when it’s your turn to have a booster dose. It’s important not to contact the NHS for one before then. Most people will be invited to book an appointment at a larger vaccination centre, pharmacy, or local NHS service such as a GP surgery. Frontline health or social care workers can book a booster dose appointment online. You do not need to wait to be contacted by the NHS. People who work for an NHS trust or a care home will usually get their booster dose through their employer.

Who can book online

You can book your COVID-19 booster vaccine dose online if you are a frontline health or social care worker. You can also book your booster dose online if you have been contacted by the NHS and you are either: • aged 50 and over • aged 16 and over with a health condition that puts you at high risk from COVID-19 If you are not a frontline health or social care worker, please wait to be contacted by the NHS before booking your booster dose. Book your COVID-19 booster vaccine at: https://www. nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirusvaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/

Which COVID-19 vaccine will I get?

Most people will be offered a booster dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine or Moderna vaccine. This means your booster dose may be different from the vaccines you had for your first and second doses. Some people may be offered a booster dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine if they cannot have the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccine.

COVID-19 booster vaccine and flu vaccine

Most people who can get a COVID-19 booster vaccine are also eligible for the annual flu vaccine. If you are offered both vaccines, it’s safe to have them at the same time.