Publish date: 29 October 2025
Flu and COVID-19 vaccines are available for all eligible people to help ‘winter-proof’ those most vulnerable and the NHS.
Vaccination teams are working to protect those most at risk of getting seriously ill this winter by building immunity ahead of December and January, when hospitalisations for respiratory viruses typically rise.
Those eligible for winter vaccines have been able to book since 1 September to allow more people to book their flu or COVID-19 vaccine appointments in advance.
For the first time ever, flu vaccines are also being delivered to two and three-year-olds in some community pharmacies.
Regionally in Cheshire and Merseyside, teams are working to make it as easy as possible for people to receive their vaccines - such as hosting mobile vaccination buses and drop-in clinics.
Since the start of September, vaccination teams have been rolling out flu vaccines to pregnant women and children through GP practices, maternity services and via schools.
Flu vaccines are also available for everyone aged 65 and over, under 65s in clinical risk groups, care home residents and carers, close contacts of those who are immunosuppressed, frontline health and social care workers, as well as children and pregnant women.
Following advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), COVID-19 vaccinations are available to adults aged 75 and over, older adult care home residents, and people who are immunosuppressed.
Booked appointments and walk-in sessions are available across local pharmacies, GP practices and community clinic drop-in centres and you can book an appointment via the NHS App, your local GP practice, online at www.nhs.uk/bookflu or www.nhs.uk/bookcovid, or by calling 119.
You can also find your nearest drop-in service using the NHS walk-in finder.
The NHS also recommends the RSV vaccine to pregnant women and older adults, as well as the pneumococcal vaccine to over 65s, to help protect against serious illnesses that are more common in the winter, like pneumonia.
You can access more information on recommended vaccinations at nhs.uk/vaccinations.
