COVID-19 spreads more easily in winter because we spend more time indoors with others. Having your COVID-19 vaccination will give you protection from serious COVID illness over winter.

As we move into autumn, protection from any earlier COVID-19 vaccination you may have had will be starting to wane. For those who are more likely to become seriously ill from COVID-19, the NHS offers a free vaccine in the autumn, previously known as the ‘Autumn Booster’.

Your GP practice will contact you to book you in for an appointment if you are part of the eligible cohorts. However, If you know you are eligible for a Covid-19 vaccination this autumn you do not have to wait to be invited. You will be able to use the National Booking System to book an appointment from the 3rd of October onwards

Eligible groups this autumn

  • adults aged 65 years and over
  • residents in a care home for older adults
  • individuals aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group as defined in tables 3 or 4 in the COVID-19 chapter of the (Green Book chapter 14a)

Compared to the previous Autumn campaigns, household contacts of the immunosuppressed, and frontline health and social care workers are no longer included in the eligible cohort. This because the protection against mild and asymptomatic illness appears to be limited and short in duration, particularly with the highly transmissible Omicron variants. Therefore the indirect benefits of vaccinating households are less evident than in previous years. Health and social care providers may offer occupational health vaccination programs for frontline workers if considered appropriate.

Health and social care providers may offer occupational health vaccination programs for frontline workers if considered appropriate

The eligibility is the same across the 4 nations of the UK (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland).

The vaccine should usually be offered no earlier than around 6 months after the last vaccine dose. If you are eligible, you can get protection from an autumn COVID-19 vaccination even if you have not taken up a COVID-19 vaccine offer in the past.

Eligibility for the immunosuppressed

We understand that having a weakened immune system (immunosuppression) is a lot less straight forward than the other criteria. Looking online can cause even more confusion, as people might see themselves (and be considered by others) as immunosuppressed but might not fit the immunosuppression criteria for vaccination.

So, what are the immunosuppression criteria? Eligibility is outlined in Chapter 14a of the Green Book chapter 14a, a document published by UKHSA specifically for public health professionals. It can be a complicated document for non-experts, so we've listed some of the groups here:

  • Organ, bone marrow or stem cell transplant patients
  • Those being treated with systemic steroids for more than a month
  • Those living with HIV
  • Those receiving immunosuppressive or immunomodulating biological therapy, including children who are about to receive therapy
  • Those undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy
  • Those who require long-term treatment for immunosuppression
  • Those with a history of haematological malignancy including chronic leukaemia, lymphomas, and leukaemia
  • Those with genetic disorders affecting the immune system

While this list summarises some major groups, it does not cover everything. Please check online at nhs.uk/get-vaccine to see if you are eligible.

1. How serious is seasonal flu and COVID-19?

18,000 deaths have been associated with flu, and 19,500 with COVID-19 over the last 2 years. These viruses are deadly, particularly for those most vulnerable people.

2. How does having the flu and Covid 19 vaccine stop the virus speading?

Every year hundreds of lives are saved by people getting the flu and Covid vaccinations. The vaccines help prevent people becoming ill with these diseases and then they are not able to pass on these infections to friends, family and patients, who might become seriously ill if they caught Covid-19 or flu.

3. How does having the vaccine protect others?

Both the flu vaccine and the Covid -19 vaccine will help prevent you catching the infections. Healthy people can become very ill with winter diseases like flu and Covid-19. But even if you have mild symptoms, you can pass the illness on to others who may become more seriously ill. If you are vaccinated and protected from flu and Covid-19 you are LESS likely to be coughing and sneezing and so won’t pass either virus on to others.

Having both your flu and COVID-19 vaccines as soon as possible protects you and reduces pressure on the NHS during winter.

4. Is the vaccine only effective for 6 weeks?

Both flu and Covid vaccines will protect you throughout the autumn and winter period. The Covid vaccine is most effective after a month and then the protection it offers starts to reduce over the following months. That is why older people and those with suppressed immune systems are offered spring vaccinations.

5. How will the vaccine protect me against new variants this winter if they were made a while ago?

The World Health Organization monitors and surveys the virus all year from flu outbreaks in 110 countries. The data collected informs which strains should be vaccinated against in the coming winter. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MRHA) and United Kingdon Health Security Agency (UKHSA) ensure that the vaccines we obtain for use in England are safe and effective. They monitor variants around the world and review vaccine testing in adults and children.

6. Do the vaccines stop me getting the virus altogether?

Both the Covid-19 vaccine and the flu vaccine reduce the chance of you becoming severely unwell from Covid-19 and flu. It may take a few days for your body to build up some extra protection from the vaccines. Like all medicines, no vaccine is completely effective – some people may still get Covid-19 and flu illness despite having a vaccination, but any infection should be less severe so you should not become seriously ill and feeling quite so bad. It will also help you to recover more quickly.

7. What is the difference between a vaccine and a booster?

There is no difference between a vaccine and a booster. If you have never had a flu or Covid vaccine before, you will be protected just as well by having the vaccine this autumn. Some more vulnerable people are offered a second vaccine in the spring to top up their immunity.

It is important to top up your protection, even if you have had a vaccine or been ill with flu or Covid -19 before, as immunity fades over time and these viruses change each year.

We have stopped using the term booster as it was causing confusion.#

8. What are the common side effects of the flu and Covid vaccines in the short and long term?

Both vaccines can cause side effects but not everyone gets them. Most are mild and should not last more than a week, such as:

· A sore arm from each injection

· Feeling tired

· A headache

· Feeling achy

· Mild flu-like symptoms

If you have side effects, rest and you could also take pain relief such as paracetamol.

Serious side effects are very rare and are greatly outweighed by the risks of severe illness from getting flu or Covid.

Worldwide there have been very rare cases of inflammation of the heart called myocarditis or pericarditis reported after some Covid vaccinations.

These cases have been seen mostly in younger men within several days of vaccination. Most recovered and felt better following rest and simple treatments.

You should seek medical advice urgently is, after vaccination you experience:

  • Chest pain
  • Shortness of breath
  •  Feelings of having a fast-beating, fluttering or pounding heart.

9. Is it safe to get the flu and Covid vaccines together?

Yes, and many people prefer to get the vaccinations together to save time.

10. Are the side effects worse if I get both together?

Both vaccines can have side effects but not everyone gets them. Some people might feel the effects are greater after having both vaccinations, while others might not notice any difference.

Most are mild and should not last more than a week, such as:

· A sore arm from each injection

· Feeling tired

· A headache

· Feeling achy

· Mild flu-like symptoms

If you have side effects, rest and you could also take pain relief such as paracetamol.

The flu vaccination: who should have it and why - BSL