Winter vaccines 2023/24

Flu and coronavirus vaccines will be offered to those eligible between September and December. It’s strongly recommended you get vaccinated if you’re eligible this winter. Invitations for people who are eligible will start being sent from late August. You may receive your invitation at a different time than previous years. Find out more at Winter vaccines | NHS inform

This year’s programme has an increased focus on protecting those at highest risk of becoming seriously ill from flu and COVID-19. There will also be changes to call up dates to ensure maximum protection to these groups over the winter months.

Decision-making on Scotland’s vaccination programme is guided by the independent, expert advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

Vaccination is required every year because flu viruses are constantly changing and your level of protection against COVID-19 may have reduced since your last vaccine. The vaccines offered this year will give you the best possible protection against the viruses likely to be circulating this winter.

Appointments can be booked via the online portal or by calling the National Vaccination Helpline on 0800 030 8013.

The winter programme will aim to complete most vaccinations by early December, but the programme will run until 31 March 2024. Further information is available at NHS Inform alongside leaflets and information in other languages and formats (including BSL).

FLU ONLY – FIRST TO BE CALLED FORWARD

People aged 50-64 with no underlying health conditions are now being called forward for appointments, starting from 4 September.

The expansion of the flu programme to include secondary school pupils continues this winter, with all school age pupils, children aged 2-5 and children aged 6 months to under 2 years at risk being eligible.

FLU AND COVID-19 – FIRST TO BE CALLED FORWARD

Invitations to people aged 65-74 years of age with no underlying conditions and those aged 12-64 years in a clinical risk group (excluding those with a weakened immune system) that leaves them at greater risk from COVID-19 will be the first to receive invitations, with appointments starting from 18 September.

Invitations for all other priority groups receiving both flu and COVID-19 vaccines will follow as the programme progresses. This includes people in care homes and those aged 75 and over who will receive invitations for appointments starting from mid-October. Both of these groups were offered vaccination during the spring COVID-19 programme, so their immunity has received a recent boost.

Clinical advice and evidence shows that administration of both vaccines together is a safe and efficient way to deliver maximum protection.

The JCVI has advised that protection is highest in the three months following vaccination, so vaccinating those at highest risk of COVID-19 later provides greater protection over the peak winter period and into the new year.

Last year, over 89% of flu and COVID-19 vaccines were administered at the same time.

HOW WILL I BE CONTACTED

People should wait for NHS Scotland to contact them with details of their appointment, or prompt to book. Depending on their selected communication preferences, this will be by email, text, or by post in a white, NHS Scotland branded envelope, which replaces the blue envelopes used previously. You can now update your contact details and your preferred method of contact on the online portal. If you select to receive future correspondence about your vaccines by email or SMS, then you will no longer receive future letters with this information.

 
Rolling offer: If you’re aged 5 to 64 with no eligible condition/circumstance, you’ll no longer be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, unless you later enter an eligible group in future programmes, as recommended by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

COVID-19 vaccine type: JCVI advice on vaccine type to be used remains unpublished, but assume switch to any new variant vaccines once approved and requisite PGDs and training in place.

Winter vaccine eligibility
Updated 18 August 2023

View our eligibility table (PDF)