Flu Vaccinations and Covid Boosters
The national start date for flu and covid vaccination is 1st October 2026. For the Autumn Booster Campaign we will be offering flu and covid vaccinations at separate appointments. The Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation has set the cohort for covid vaccinations for this Autumn, the cohort will be the same as Spring.
Eligible Patient Cohort for Covid Vaccines
- 75 year and over
- Residents in a care home
- Persons aged 6 months or over who are immunosuppressed
Clinics for covid vaccinations will take place on Thursdays, starting Thursday 8 October 2026.
As in previous years there are 2 flu vaccines, one for patients aged 65 and over and a different one for patients under 65 years. We will set up our clinics so that we only administer one type of flu vaccine at that time. This avoids confusion and error, so please try and book the correct slot for your cohort.
Our appointments will be available to book online via Patient Access and the NHS app. There is also an additional online option. We will send an invitation to you via email or text. There will be a link that will allow access to our online appointments and allow you to book a slot. If you are eligible for both flu and covid vaccines you will receive separate invitations for each one. This link is one use only and is valid for 7 days. Where possible we would ask patients to use these booking options to keep phone lines free. For those who don’t have Patient Access or internet access from their phone you are still able to book through reception at the surgery (telephone or over the counter).
Eligible Patient Cohort for Flu Vaccines
For 2026 General Practice will be offering flu vaccinations to:
- Residents in a care home for older adults
- All adults aged 65 years and over
- Persons aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical at risk group (this includes pregnant women)
- Frontline health and social care workers
- Persons aged 12 to 64 years who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression
- Persons aged 16 to 64 years who are carers and staff working in care homes for older adults
- 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 workers in a social care setting without an employer led occupational health scheme including those working for a registered residential care or nursing home, registered domiciliary care providers, voluntary managed hospice providers and those that are employed by those who receive direct payments (personal budgets) or Personal Health budgets, such as Personal Assistants
- People experiencing homelessness
We ask patients not to arrive too early for their appointment as this can cause unnecessary queueing, you may be asked to queue outside or wait in your car.
As in previous years you will not sit down in the waiting area or in the consulting room, it is important we keep the flow of patients moving. Please be aware no other services will be available at this time, so please do not ask clinicians or non-clinical staff about any other matters.
There will be a one way system operating through the building, so patients will enter through the main entrance but leave through another exit.
Patients need to wear loose clothing so they can easily expose their upper arm up to their shoulder. There will not be time for removing layers of clothing prior to the vaccination. Staff will be reminding patients of this whilst they queue. If any patients have cold symptoms they should not attend as the vaccination cannot be given and they will be asked to return home and contact the Practice at a later date to rebook.
Housebound patients will be contacted to arrange dates for both vaccinations.
Flu Clinic Dates
- Thursday 1st October. Patients aged 65 years and over afternoon, under 65 years evening.
- Saturday 3rd October. Patients over 65 years only
- Saturday 10th October Patients aged 65 years and over morning, under 65 years afternoon.
Covid Clinics Dates
Starting Thursday 8th October. Afternoons and evenings.
Children’s Flus
General Practice only administers children’s flus to the 2 to 3 year old group. Invitations for this will be sent out separately and clinics/appointments will be held at different times to the main flu clinics.