The flu and COVID-19 vaccination programmes help to provide important protection to those eligible and their families over winter, preventing serious illness and death and helping to minimise hospitalisations during busy winter months.
Flu and COVID-19 spread more easily in winter when we spend more time together indoors and can cause serious illness. Respiratory viruses usually reach their peak over the festive and new year period. If you are vaccinated and catch flu or COVID-19 this winter, you are likely to have milder symptoms and recover faster, cutting your risk of being hospitalised.
Latest update on COVID-19 and flu vaccinations: Get Winter Strong
Wherever possible COVID-19 and flu vaccines are to be administered at the same time.
- From Monday, 11 September 2023 COVID-19 and flu vaccinations will start for care home residents and those who are housebound.
- From Monday, 11 September 2023, COVID-19 and flu vaccinations can start for those eligible and at most risk, including those who are immunosuppressed. This will be done through a local booking system.
- From Monday, 18 September 2023 the National Booking system will become available to allow eligible people to book a COVID-19 vaccination online, through the NHS App or by calling 119. National COVID-19 invitations will also start from Monday, 18 September 2023.
- From Monday, 18 September 2023 you will be able to use the Pharmacy Finder Service for in-pharmacy walk-in clinics where no appointment is necessary.
- From Monday, 30 September 2023 you will be able to use the Walk-in Finder page for other vaccination services offering walk-in vaccinations.
- Things to help yourself stay well this winter - including getting your flu and COVID vaccinations
Who can get a COVID-19 vaccine?
You may be able to get a seasonal COVID-19 vaccine in autumn 2023 if you’re at increased risk from COVID-19.
COVID autumn boosters are available for the following eligible people:
- Frontline health and social care workers
- People aged 16 to 64 years who are carers, as defined in the UKHSA Green Book, and staff working in care homes for older adults
- People aged 12 to 64 years who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression, as defined in the UKHSA Green Book
- Residents in care homes for older adults
- People aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group, as defined in tables 3 and 4 of the COVID-19 chapter of the UKHSA Green Book on Immunisation
- All adults aged 65 years and over
How to book a coronavirus COVID-19 and flu vaccination?
For most people, vaccinations are only available seasonally.
If you're eligible you can book an appointment through your registered GP or through a local pharmacist using the National Booking System. Alternatively, you can drop-in to a COVID vaccination site, where no appointment is needed.
Book, cancel or change a COVID-19 vaccination appointment
Find a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination site
Local vaccination clinics – no appointment needed
To help with planning, if you can, please use NHS national booking system to book an appointment for your vaccination. Please only visit the clinics at the times indicated and avoid ringing for appointments.
Where they have the capacity to do so, the clinical team will accommodate eligible walk-in patients at the following clinics:
Date of drop-in clinic: Wednesday, 29 November 2023
Time: 9am–12noon (last walk-in 15 minutes before close)
Location: Hopwood Medical Centre, 1–3 Walton Street, Heywood OL10 2BS
A seasonal (winter) booster vaccine clinic:
- For people aged 12–64 in a clinical risk group
- For people aged 65 and over
It must be at least 91 days since your last vaccination and you must have had both your first and second vaccinations.
Date of drop-in clinic: Thursday, 30 November 2023
Time: 9am–12noon (last walk-in 15 minutes before close)
Location: Hopwood Medical Centre, 1–3 Walton Street, Heywood OL10 2BS
A seasonal (winter) booster vaccine clinic:
- For people aged 12–64 in a clinical risk group
- For people aged 65 and over
It must be at least 91 days since your last vaccination and you must have had both your first and second vaccinations.
Date of drop-in clinic: Friday, 1 December 2023
Time: 9am–12noon (last walk-in 15 minutes before close)
Location: Hopwood Medical Centre, 1–3 Walton Street, Heywood OL10 2BS
A seasonal (winter) booster vaccine clinic:
- For people aged 12–64 in a clinical risk group
- For people aged 65 and over
It must be at least 91 days since your last vaccination and you must have had both your first and second vaccinations.
Date of drop-in clinic: Monday, 4 December 2023
Time: 9am–12noon (last walk-in 15 minutes before close)
Location: Hopwood Medical Centre, 1–3 Walton Street, Heywood OL10 2BS
A seasonal (winter) booster vaccine clinic:
- For people aged 12–64 in a clinical risk group
- For people aged 65 and over
It must be at least 91 days since your last vaccination and you must have had both your first and second vaccinations.
Date of drop-in clinic: Tuesday, 5 December 2023
Time: 9am–12noon (last walk-in 15 minutes before close)
Location: Hopwood Medical Centre, 1–3 Walton Street, Heywood OL10 2BS
A seasonal (winter) booster vaccine clinic:
- For people aged 12–64 in a clinical risk group
- For people aged 65 and over
It must be at least 91 days since your last vaccination and you must have had both your first and second vaccinations.
Date of drop-in clinic: Wednesday, 6 December 2023
Time: 9am–12noon (last walk-in 15 minutes before close)
Location: Hopwood Medical Centre, 1–3 Walton Street, Heywood OL10 2BS
A seasonal (winter) booster vaccine clinic:
- For people aged 12–64 in a clinical risk group
- For people aged 65 and over
It must be at least 91 days since your last vaccination and you must have had both your first and second vaccinations.
Date of drop-in clinic: Thursday, 7 December 2023
Time: 9am–12noon (last walk-in 15 minutes before close)
Location: Hopwood Medical Centre, 1–3 Walton Street, Heywood OL10 2BS
A seasonal (winter) booster vaccine clinic:
- For people aged 12–64 in a clinical risk group
- For people aged 65 and over
It must be at least 91 days since your last vaccination and you must have had both your first and second vaccinations.
Date of drop-in clinic: Friday, 8 December 2023
Time: 9am–12noon (last walk-in 15 minutes before close)
Location: Hopwood Medical Centre, 1–3 Walton Street, Heywood OL10 2BS
A seasonal (winter) booster vaccine clinic:
- For people aged 12–64 in a clinical risk group
- For people aged 65 and over
It must be at least 91 days since your last vaccination and you must have had both your first and second vaccinations.
Date of drop-in clinic: Monday, 11 December 2023
Time: 9am–12noon (last walk-in 15 minutes before close)
Location: Hopwood Medical Centre, 1–3 Walton Street, Heywood OL10 2BS
A seasonal (winter) booster vaccine clinic:
- For people aged 12–64 in a clinical risk group
- For people aged 65 and over
It must be at least 91 days since your last vaccination and you must have had both your first and second vaccinations.
Date of drop-in clinic: Tuesday, 12 December 2023
Time: 9am–12noon (last walk-in 15 minutes before close)
Location: Hopwood Medical Centre, 1–3 Walton Street, Heywood OL10 2BS
A seasonal (winter) booster vaccine clinic:
- For people aged 12–64 in a clinical risk group
- For people aged 65 and over
It must be at least 91 days since your last vaccination and you must have had both your first and second vaccinations.
Guidance on reducing the risk of catching COVID-19
- COVID-19: guidance for people whose immune system means they are at higher risk
- Watch the Winter vaccination campaign 2023 video (00:00:30)