NHS issues Covid and flu jab warning as part of effort to avoid 'tripledemic’

NHS bosses have warned that people have less than three weeks left to book in their Covid or flu jabs online as part of a huge effort to avoid a 'tripledemic’ this winter.

Chiefs at NHS England are urging anyone eligible for the vaccinations to book one in as soon as possible. People have until December 19 to book their Covid or flu jabs using the NHS online booking system, NHS App or 119 phone service.

The Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine is also being rolled out at the same time and will remain available all year round. The NHS has issued the warning as professionals work to avoid a 'tripledemic' - a situation where three viruses, Covid, flu and RSV, are spreading at the same time.

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The latest data shows 15.88 million flu and 9.08 million Covid jabs have been given since September, along with 1.1 million RSV vaccinations. In the last week alone, more than a million jabs were given – 655,473 flu vaccines, 294,399 Covid vaccines and 60,743 RSV.

After December 19, it will still be possible to book jabs through local NHS vaccination services, like pharmacies or walk-in sites. However, there will be fewer Covid appointments, and you may need to travel further, NHS England said.

Steve Russell, NHS national director for vaccinations and screening, said: "With just three weeks left to book a COVID and flu vaccination online, on the NHS App or via 119, it is so important that everyone eligible takes the opportunity to get protected while they still can.

"Getting vaccinated is your best defence against winter viruses and will help prevent people from getting seriously ill, reduce the amount of people needing hospital care, and help keep people at home with their families this winter.

“Millions of vaccinations have been delivered thanks to the hard work of our dedicated NHS teams across the country - but we’re still urging more people to come forward and make sure they are protected this winter by getting these lifesaving vaccines as soon as possible."

Public Health Minister Andrew Gwynne said: "It’s encouraging to see that nearly 25 million Covid-19 and Flu vaccines have already been administered this year, which will provide people with vital protection and reduce pressure on the NHS this winter. I urge everyone who is eligible to take up the offer and get their Flu, COVID-19, and RSV jabs as soon as possible.

"They are without a doubt the best way to protect yourself and your family from these viruses that can cause serious harm."

Below is the list of those eligible for a flu vaccine this year:

• pregnant women
• all children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2024
• primary school aged children (from Reception to Year 6)
• secondary school aged children (from Year 7 to Year 11)
• all children in clinical risk groups aged from 6 months to less than 18 years
• those aged 65 years and over
• those aged 18 years to under 65 years in clinical risk groups (as defined by the Green Book)
• those in long-stay residential care homes
• carers in receipt of carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person
• close contacts of immunocompromised individuals
• frontline workers in a social care setting without an employer led occupational health scheme including those working for a registered residential care or nursing home, registered domiciliary care providers, voluntary managed hospice providers and those that are employed by Those who receive direct payments (personal budgets) or Personal Health budgets, such as Personal Assistants

Below lists those eligible for an autumn COVID booster:

• residents in a care home for older adults
• all adults aged 65 years and over
• persons aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group, as defined in the Green Book, including pregnant women
• frontline health and social care workers and staff in care homes for older adults

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