Information about the flu vaccine and seasonal COVID-19 booster programme

The COVID-19 Autumn/Winter Booster and flu vaccine programmes for 2022 have now begun. This year, anyone aged 16 and over who is

the carer of someone at an increased risk from flu or COVID-19 is eligible for both vaccines. This includes unpaid carers looking after a family member, friend or neighbour. As of October 2022, there is no longer the requirement to provide proof of being a carer when attending the vaccination appointments.

You can find out more about the NHS flu vaccination and who is eligible for it for free on the NHS website. This year, the Government has extended who can receive a free NHS flu jab to include 50 to 64-year-olds that are not in a clinically at risk group and secondary school children in years 7, 8 and 9.

Details of who is eligible for the COVID-19 booster, in addition to unpaid family carers, are on the Government website and listed below:

• All adults aged 50 years and over.
• Residents and staff in care homes for older adults.
• People aged five to 49 years who are in a clinical risk group (such as people with diabetes, chronic heart, liver or kidney disease, or respiratory disease).
• People aged five to 49 years who live with people with immunosuppression.

How to book your COVID-19 booster
Carers who are known to their GP as carers will receive invitations to book both vaccines, or may have received invites already.
If you are not already registered with your GP as a carer, you can also self-declare and book a COVID-19 booster appointment in the following ways:
• Through the National Booking Service.
• By calling 119
• Finding a walk-in vaccination site using the NHS online tool via this link – Find a walk-in coronavirus vaccination site.

If you live in Hertfordshire, you can get information about the county’s flu vaccination and COVID-19 booster programme at https://hertsandwestessexics.org.uk/covid-19

We would also recommend registering as a carer with your GP so that you can be identified for future vaccinations. Please enquire with your GP practice about their process to register as a carer with them. Some practices have an online feature to register as a carer with them.
For the flu vaccine, carers should approach their GP or pharmacy for further information about how to access it.