NHS vaccinations

Why Get Vaccinated?

Flu can cause serious illness, particularly in older adults, young children, pregnant women, and those with long-term health conditions. Vaccination remains the best way to reduce your risk of severe illness and hospitalisation.

COVID-19 also continues to circulate during the winter months, making vaccination important for those at higher risk.

When Should You Get Vaccinated?

As soon as you're eligible.

Getting vaccinated in September or October helps build protection before flu season typically peaks in December and January. The NHS recommends receiving your vaccine by late November where possible.

Can I Have Both Vaccines Together?

Yes. If you're eligible for both flu and COVID-19 vaccinations, they can usually be given during the same appointment.

What About Children?

Most school age children will receive their flu vaccine as a nasal spray through their school vaccination programme.

Children aged 6 months to under 2 years who are in a clinical risk group may be offered an injectable flu vaccine through NHS services.

Protect Yourself This Winter

Getting vaccinated is one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect yourself, your family, and your community. If you're unsure whether you're eligible, contact Ruby Country Medical Group for advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

When can I get my flu and Covid-19 vaccines?

The NHS flu and Covid-19 vaccination programme for 2026/27 begins in autumn 2026. Eligible people can arrange their vaccination through their GP practice

Who is eligible?

NHS flu and Covid-19 vaccinations are offered to people in eligible groups who are at greater risk from flu or Covid-19 or who may benefit from protection.  This can include older adults, people with certain health conditions, pregnant women and some children.

Eligibility can change each season, so check the latest NHS guidance or ask your local pharmacy or GP practice.

Can I get flu and Covid-19 vaccinations at the same time?

In some circumstances, flu and COVID-19 vaccinations can be given during the same appointment.  Whether you are eligible for both vaccines depends on the NHS vaccination programme and your individual circumstances.

Why should I have a vaccination each year?

Viruses change over time and the strains expected to circulate can vary from one season to another.  The flu vaccines are updated regularly to provide protection against the strains expected during the upcoming season.

It’s important to make sure that your child has all of their routine childhood vaccinations. It’s the most effective way of keeping them protected against infectious diseases.

Ideally, children should have their vaccinations at the right age to protect them as early as possible and to minimise the risk of infection.

Your GP will be able to tell you what vaccinations children need. You can also find more information about children’s vaccinations and benefits on the NHS website.

Seasonal flu is a highly infectious illness that’s caused by a flu virus. The virus infects your lungs and upper airways, and can cause a high temperature, aches and pains. A flu vaccination can help limit your risk of getting the flu.

Our surgery offers flu vaccinations to patients every year in the autumn. We usually offer two routine vaccinations – one for patients under 65 years and another vaccine for patients over 65 years.

You can contact the surgery to find out more about flu vaccinations or visit the NHS website.

National programme details are usually available at the beginning of September each year.

To find out more about the Flu vaccination programme click here

We offer routine vaccinations and general advice to our patients travelling abroad who may need to be vaccinated.

We recommend booking an appointment to see your GP and help plan for your trip. It may take up to eight weeks for a full course of vaccinations, so please contact us well in advance to give yourself plenty of time if you’re planning to go abroad where you’re required to be vaccinated.

Some vaccinations are ordered on a private prescription and not on the NHS, which means that these will be charged for. Your GP will be able to tell you which vaccinations you need, when you need them and if you will need to pay for them.

You can book an appointment to see your GP using our online system. You can also find useful information about travel vaccinations on the Travel vaccinations page on the NHS website.

A vaccine to prevent shingles, a common, painful skin disease has been offered to those in 70-79 age group. This is now changing with an increased roll out to those who are younger. 

From 1 September 2023:

• Those aged 70-79 will still be able to get the shingles vaccine from their GP practice. They will either be offered one dose of Zostavax or two doses of Shingrix (6 to 12 months apart)
• All those aged 50 and over with a weakened immune system will be offered two doses of the Shingrix vaccine by their GP practice (8 weeks to 6 months apart).
• Those turning 65 and 70 will be offered two doses of the Shingrix vaccine (6 to 12 months apart) by their GP practice as they become eligible (eligibility will go down to 60 years old in September 2028).

Research has shown that once people turn 80 it is no longer effective.

For NHS information regarding shingles vaccinations click HERE

Dependant on age, the shingles vaccine is usually given as a single injection into the upper arm. You can have it at any time of the year.

The shingles vaccine is expected to reduce your risk of getting shingles. If you do go on to have the disease, your symptoms may be milder and the illness shorter.

Shingles can be very painful and uncomfortable. Some people are left with pain lasting for years after the initial rash has healed. Shingles is also fatal for around 1 in 1,000 over-70s who develop it.

It's fine to have the shingles vaccine if you've already had shingles.  Once you've had it, you don't need to have another. The shingles vaccine works very well in people who have had shingles before and it will boost your immunity against further shingles attacks.

The surgery will be reminding patients that are eligible for this vaccine to make an appointment with the Practice Nurse. If you think you are eligible for a Shingles vaccination and haven't yet been contacted, please get in touch.

A wealth of information about pneumonia and the vaccine you can  have against it can be found at Pneumonia Aware 

Like the shingles vaccination it is usually a once-only vaccination.