50 or over? Boost your immunity this winter!
Vaccination is our best protection against dangerous viruses like flu and COVID-19
Last updated 2nd Nov 2022
Flu and COVID-19 are very infectious respiratory viruses which can be serious, even if you are healthy.
These viruses spread more easily in winter when we spend more time together indoors. Both flu and COVID-19 can cause hospitalisation and could even be life-threatening.
Winter vaccination is especially important as we get older as our natural immunity to fight off infections decreases with age.
If you are 50 or over or have an underlying health condition, you are especially at risk of complications if you catch the flu and COVID-19 virus. As a result, you will be offered the flu vaccine, COVID-19 booster or both this winter.
We know that flu activity levels have been extremely low over the last two winters mainly due to COVID-19 prevention measures. A lower level of population immunity against flu is expected this year and flu strains change. As the number of COVID-19 infections is likely to increase over the winter and flu activity is also expected to increase getting vaccinated will help give you the best possible protection against each virus.
The best way to help protect yourself from catching and spreading flu is to get the flu vaccine when it is offered ideally before flu starts to circulate.
Many people will have received a COVID-19 booster last winter to help provide extra protection against the Omicron variant. Research shows that protection provided by the COVID-19 vaccine, like other vaccines, can fade over time and therefore boosters are recommended to enable this vital protection to continue.
We don’t know when future waves of COVID-19 will occur, but winter is the season when the threat from COVID-19 is greatest.
This winter you may be offered both the flu vaccine and COVID-19 booster at the same time – it is both safe and effective to be vaccinated this way.
The majority of vaccines will be delivered via GPs and community pharmacies and each will have their own arrangements for inviting eligible groups
Don’t let your protection fade. For more information visit: