NHS England announced on 13 December 2024 that eligible people in England have until the end of the day on Thursday 19 December to book COVID-19 and flu vaccination appointments on the NHS App, NHS website or by calling 1191. The announcement followed a warning the previous day of a sharp rise in flu infections and a surge in bookings.
Bookings for flu and COVID-19 jabs through the NHS's national booking system more than doubled from 9,452 on Wednesday to 21,144 on Thursday, a 124% increase, the NHS said. Bookings through the NHS App, NHS website and national call centre reached their highest daily total of the month, averaging one booking every four seconds. The NHS added that patients can also book directly with their GP practice, so the actual number of bookings on Thursday is likely to be significantly higher1.
The NHS warned on 12 December that a sharp rise in infections led to a 70% increase in hospital cases across just seven days. An average of 1,861 patients with flu were in hospital every day last week, up from 1,099 the previous week and three and a half times higher than the same time last year1.
"With less than a week left to book your vaccine, I'd urge anyone eligible who hasn't made an appointment to get one booked or risk having to spend the festive season in bed, or, worse still, in a hospital bed."
The NHS said it is still possible to book vaccinations after 19 December through local NHS vaccination services such as pharmacies or walk-in sites, but there will be fewer COVID-19 appointments and people may need to travel further1. Flu season usually peaks in December and January, according to the NHS1.
Eligibility for the flu vaccine this year, in line with advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, is set out by the NHS as follows1:
| Group eligible for a flu vaccine |
|---|
| Pregnant women |
| All children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2024 |
| Primary school aged children (reception to year 6) |
| Secondary school aged children (year 7 to year 11) |
| All children in clinical risk groups aged from 6 months to under 18 years |
| Those aged 65 years and over |
| Those aged 18 to under 65 years in clinical risk groups |
| Those in long-stay residential care homes |
| Carers in receipt of carer's allowance, or main carers of an elderly or disabled person |
| Close contacts of immunocompromised individuals |
| Frontline social care workers without an employer-led occupational health scheme |
The NHS also said that, for the first time, it is offering the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine to pregnant women from 28 weeks and to older adults aged 75 to 79. Pregnant women are encouraged to book via their maternity service or GP practice, and older adults should wait to be invited by the NHS1. All NHS frontline health workers have been offered the COVID-19 and flu vaccines1.
Why it matters for households
The deadline applies to eligible people in England who have not yet booked a COVID-19 or flu vaccination appointment through the national system. The NHS encourages eligible people to get vaccinated without delay to avoid festive flu1. After 19 December, bookings remain possible through local NHS vaccination services, but with fewer COVID-19 appointments and potentially longer travel1. The NHS says the flu vaccine provides protection against serious illness and hospital admission during the winter months when flu season usually peaks1. Households checking which vaccines protect against winter and other outbreaks can read the guide to vaccines that protect against outbreaks, part of the health emergencies section.
What happens next
The national booking window through the NHS App, NHS website and 119 closes at the end of the day on Thursday 19 December1. Appointments after that date are available only through local NHS vaccination services such as pharmacies and walk-in sites, with fewer COVID-19 appointments and possible additional travel1.
Vaccines Against Outbreaks
