Dr Rosie: Winter Vaccinations

This week’s health update: staying protected as autumn turns to winter

With the seasons changing and winter on the horizon, now is the time to make sure your vaccinations are up to date. In this edition with Dr Rosie and Spire Cheshire Hospital, the focus is on three key respiratory threats: flu, COVID-19 and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus).

Why flu vaccination matters more than ever

If you’ve ever had flu, you’ll know it’s far more than a bad cold: it can be a serious, even life‑threatening illness. No vaccine is 100% effective, but getting vaccinated each year is the single best way to reduce your risk of catching it and spreading it to others.

The flu virus changes every year, which is why the vaccine is updated annually to match the strains most likely to circulate. This season’s jab includes tweaks to better protect against last winter’s dominant “Super‑K” subclade.

Who can get the NHS flu vaccine – and when?

This year, schoolchildren are being prioritised because evidence suggests children can spread flu more quickly through households and communities. The school‑age programme is already under way.

From 1 October 2026, most other eligible groups in England can access their free NHS flu vaccine:

• Adults aged 65 and over (including those who will be 65 by 31 March 2027)
• Adults aged 18–64 with certain long‑term health conditions, such as chronic respiratory, heart, kidney or liver disease; diabetes; neurological conditions; a weakened immune system; or a BMI of 40 or above
• People living in long‑stay residential care homes
• Carers receiving Carer’s Allowance, or who are the main carer for an older or disabled person
• Close contacts of immunocompromised people
• Eligible frontline health and social care workers without employer‑led programmes
• People experiencing homelessness or staying in homeless hostels/night shelters (from 1 October)
• Pregnant women (eligible from 1 September)
• Children aged 2 and over not yet in school, and children in clinical risk groups

Even if you’re not eligible for a free NHS jab, it’s worth considering a private flu vaccination. It’s relatively inexpensive, and that small investment can pay off in avoided illness, time off work, and reduced pressure on local services over winter.

COVID-19: still with us, still worth guarding against

COVID-19 may no longer dominate the headlines, but it continues to circulate and can still cause severe illness, particularly in older adults and those with weakened immune systems. Protection from earlier doses wanes over time, which is why the NHS offers an autumn booster to those at highest risk.

For autumn 2026, the free NHS COVID-19 vaccine is offered to:

• Adults aged 75 and over
• Residents in care homes for older adults
• People aged 6 months and over who are immunosuppressed due to a health condition or treatment

Some people outside these groups may choose to pay privately for a COVID-19 booster. It’s more expensive than a flu jab, but for those with additional risk factors or high exposure, it can still be a worthwhile decision.

RSV: protecting babies, older adults and pregnant women

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common winter virus that infects the nose, throat and lungs. In most healthy adults and older children it causes mild, cold‑like symptoms, but it can be serious for infants, older adults and people with underlying conditions.

NHS RSV vaccination is now routinely offered to:

• Pregnant women, to protect their newborn babies in the first months of life
• Adults aged 75 and over (including those who will be 75 by 31 January 2027)
• All residents in care homes for older adults
• Some people under 75 with certain health conditions, particularly those who are immunosuppressed

Again, keeping up to date with RSV vaccination helps protect both individuals and the wider community, especially vulnerable babies and older relatives.

The bottom line: keep your vaccinations up to date

The moral of this week’s health update is simple: as we move from autumn into winter, staying current with flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccinations is one of the most effective things you can do for your own health and for those around you.

If you’re unsure whether you’re eligible, or when to book, your GP surgery, local pharmacy or the NHS website can confirm your status and help you arrange an appointment. And if you fall outside the free groups, a private flu jab – and in some cases a private COVID booster – may still be a smart, low‑cost investment in a healthier winter.

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HEALTH