Flu and Covid-19 vaccinations open for older and at-risk adults

Flu and Covid-19 vaccination appointments for autumn and winter 2025 open from 1 October, with the NHS having begun the flu programme in stages from the start of September. The eligibility lists were set out by Wiltshire and Swindon Prepared, an official local resilience body, and the wider winter preparations were announced by NHS England on 16 September 2025¹.

For flu, the local resilience body says some groups became eligible from the week of 1 September: pregnant women, all children aged 2 or 3 on 31 August, primary school-aged children from Reception to Year 6, secondary school-aged children from Year 7 to Year 11, and all children in clinical risk groups aged from 6 months to under 18¹. From 1 October, eligibility extends to everyone aged 65 and over, individuals aged 18 to under 65 with certain long-term health conditions, care home residents, carers in receipt of Carer's Allowance or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person, those living with people who are immunocompromised, and frontline health and social care workers¹.

The Covid-19 autumn booster for 2025 is offered to a narrower set of groups: adults aged 75 and over, residents in care homes for older adults, and individuals who are immunosuppressed aged 6 months and over¹. The local resilience body states this is a change from the autumn 2024 programme, which also included adults aged 65 to 74 and all those aged 6 months and over in a clinical risk group¹.

The local resilience body says that people who are eligible can book online or via the NHS App now, for appointments from 1 October, and do not need to wait to be invited¹. NHS England said new government vaccination campaigns would launch from 22 September, the first encouraging pregnant women to "Stay strong. Get vaccinated" for flu, RSV and whooping cough, with further activity in October to support flu uptake among people with long-term health conditions².

NHS England said local teams are being asked to identify patients most vulnerable to winter viruses and at risk of hospital admission, to provide targeted care and ensure they have the appropriate vaccinations, and that medication such as Tamiflu will be easily available for those at high risk of complications from flu². It said 2025 is currently on track to be the busiest on record for A&Es and ambulance services². Gayatri Amirthalingam, Deputy Director of Immunisation at UK Health Security Agency, said: "If you're pregnant or have a long-term health condition, you are at greater risk from serious flu complications"².

Why it matters for households

Households with members in the listed groups can book from 1 October, and the local resilience body says there is no need to wait for an invitation¹. The change to Covid-19 eligibility means adults aged 65 to 74 and some people with clinical risk conditions who received a booster in autumn 2024 are not in the 2025 Covid-19 groups listed, though they remain eligible for a flu vaccination from 1 October¹. NHS England said the public has a role in winter preparations, with Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting saying: "The single best way you can protect yourself, your family, and the NHS is by getting vaccinated"². The site's guides set out who can get a free flu vaccine and a COVID-19 vaccine now, with wider coverage in the health emergencies hub and a guide to vaccines that protect against outbreaks.

What happens next

NHS England said local NHS leaders were testing winter plans throughout September through scenario exercises covering staff shortages, rapid increases in demand and multiple virus outbreaks². Further government campaign activity to support flu vaccination among people with long-term health conditions is due in October².