Pregnant women and children in Bucks urged to get flu vaccination ahead of winter
It's in an effort to protect them and prevent the spread of flu, whooping cough and RSV
The NHS across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West (BOB) has started its autumn vaccination programme to help protect people ahead of winter.
Vaccine teams are stepping up efforts to make it easier for those eligible to get their flu jab.
Priority groups include expectant mothers, all children aged two to 16 years, and children aged six months to 18 years in clinical risk groups. These groups can receive their vaccination from September.
Most school-aged children will be offered their flu jab in school. Children aged two and three, and those who miss their school or nursery sessions, can receive the vaccine at their GP practice or at a community clinic from September.
A new community pharmacy flu vaccination service for two and three-year-olds will also begin in October.
Pregnant women are being encouraged to speak to their maternity team to arrange a flu vaccination at their scheduled maternity appointments. They can also contact their GP practice or local pharmacy.
Sarah Bellars, Chief Nursing Officer for NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board, said:
“Getting vaccinated while pregnant is the best way to protect your baby from the moment they are born, as it passes on that extra protection to them and helps keep you safe during pregnancy.
“Vaccinations against flu, whooping cough and RSV are recommended by the NHS for pregnant women and are proven to be safe for mothers and babies.
“With flu jabs available for women at any stage of their pregnancy, now is the time for mums to act to make sure their babies are protected ahead of their first few months this winter, with whooping cough vaccines available from 20 weeks and RSV from 28 weeks.”
She added:
“Younger children with flu are also much more likely to get hospitalised and should get the vaccination as soon as possible to ensure they are protected as we head into winter. Flu vaccinations can be life-saving and are our best defence against the virus.”
Flu vaccinations and Covid-19 booster jabs will be offered in the coming weeks to all eligible groups.
Eligibility for flu vaccination this autumn/winter - from 1 September 2025, the following groups will be eligible:
- pregnant women
- all children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2025
- primary school-aged children (Reception to Year 6)
- secondary school-aged children (Year 7 to Year 11)
- all children in clinical risk groups aged 6 months to under 18 years
From 1 October 2025, the programme will extend to:
- adults aged 65 years and over
- adults aged 18 to under 65 years in clinical risk groups
- residents of long-stay care homes
- carers in receipt of carer’s allowance, or the main carer of an elderly or disabled person
- close contacts of immunocompromised individuals
- frontline social care workers without an employer-led occupational health scheme, including those in residential and nursing care, domiciliary care, voluntary hospices, and personal assistants employed through personal budgets or health budgets
Health and social care staff will also be offered a flu vaccine from their organisation from 1 October 2025.
Covid-19 autumn vaccination programme - the autumn COVID-19 booster programme will run from 1 October 2025 to 31 January 2026. Eligible groups are:
- adults aged 75 and over
- residents in a care home for older adults
- individuals aged 6 months and over who are immunosuppressed