Winter vaccine advice can feel like a tangle of ages, health conditions and deadlines. Most people think of the flu jab first, but there are five vaccines worth knowing about: flu, COVID-19, RSV, pneumococcal and shingles. At The Wright Practice, we explain who the NHS offers each one to this winter, when timing matters, and how a private GP review can close genuine gaps without adding anything you do not need.
A few quick answers before we go into more detail.
The five vaccines cover different illnesses, and the NHS offers each to different groups. The table below summarises current NHS eligibility in England. It is a guide rather than a full list, so check the details against your own health conditions.
| Vaccine | Who the NHS offers it to (England, winter 2026/27) | Doses and timing |
|---|---|---|
Flu | Adults 65 and over, adults 18 to 64 with certain long-term conditions, pregnant women, care home residents, main carers, people who live with someone with a weakened immune system, and most children. | One dose each year. Available until 31 March 2027. |
COVID-19 | Adults 75 and over, care home residents for older adults, and people aged 6 months to 74 with a weakened immune system. | One dose this winter. Available until 31 January 2027. |
RSV | Pregnant women, adults 75 and over, adults 65 to 74 with a weakened immune system or long-term lung condition, and care home residents for older adults. | Usually a single dose, given by your GP surgery or maternity service. |
Pneumococcal | Adults 65 and over, and some younger adults with certain long-term health conditions. | Usually a single dose, offered all year round. |
Shingles | Adults turning 65, adults 70 to 79 who have not had it, and adults 18 and over with a severely weakened immune system. | Two doses, usually 6 to 12 months apart, offered all year round. |
Flu and COVID-19 are both respiratory viruses that spread more easily in winter, when we spend more time indoors. Vaccination does not guarantee you will avoid them, but it reduces your risk of severe symptoms and hospital admission.
RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is a common winter virus that usually causes cold-like symptoms. In older adults and people with lung conditions, it can lead to pneumonia or breathing difficulties. The RSV vaccine is aimed at those groups, and at pregnant women to help protect newborn babies.
Not strictly. Both are offered all year round, but they are often discussed alongside winter vaccines because they protect against illnesses that can be serious in older age.
The pneumococcal vaccine protects against bacteria that can cause pneumonia, meningitis and blood infections. The shingles vaccine protects against the reactivation of the chickenpox virus, which can cause a painful rash and, in some people, long-lasting nerve pain. The shingles vaccine used on the NHS is not a live vaccine, so it cannot give you shingles.
Earlier is generally better for flu and COVID-19. Protection takes up to two weeks to build, and it is helpful to be covered before winter viruses are circulating widely. That said, the NHS programmes run until the dates above, so it is not too late if you have not yet had yours.
Flu and COVID-19 vaccines can usually be given at the same appointment. RSV, pneumococcal and shingles vaccines may be given on the same day or spaced out, depending on your health and your clinician’s advice. Having several vaccines at once is safe for most people, though you may notice a sorer arm or feel tired for a day or so.
Some people sit just outside NHS bands, such as healthy adults in their fifties or sixties who would still like protection. In some cases, vaccination may be possible privately, but this depends on the vaccine, its licensing and your health, and availability varies from season to season. We will tell you plainly what is and is not appropriate in your case.
This is where a review is more useful than simply asking for every available vaccine. The aim is to protect you against the illnesses you are genuinely at risk from, and to avoid treatment that adds little.
If you are building a longer-term plan, our lifetime vaccination service looks at the vaccines you may need across adulthood, not just this winter. If you are also travelling, our travel health and vaccinations service can cover both in one visit.
Winter vaccines have a long safety record, and most side effects are mild and short-lived. Your clinician will check your history before any vaccine is given.
Contact your doctor promptly if you develop symptoms that worry you after any vaccine, and call 999 if you have difficulty breathing or swelling of the face or throat.
“A lot of adults assume they’ve missed their chance with the HPV vaccine, and that simply isn’t true for most people,” says Dr Dan Wright. “The vaccine covers nine strains, and even with a full sexual history, it’s very unlikely anyone has been exposed to all of them. We take the time to talk through personal risk and prior exposure so each patient can make an informed decision, rather than assuming the vaccine no longer applies to them.”
This individually tailored approach runs across every consultation at our Harley Street clinic, including our wider vaccination and prevention services for sexual health.
Yes. Flu viruses change from year to year, and vaccines are updated to match, so protection from last year’s flu vaccine will not cover this winter. If you are eligible, an annual flu vaccine is recommended each autumn.
Usually, yes. Both can be given at one appointment, which many people find convenient. You may feel slightly more tired or have a sorer arm, but this normally settles within a day or two.
The NHS offers the RSV vaccine to pregnant women, adults aged 75 and over, adults aged 65 to 74 with a weakened immune system or long-term lung condition, and older care home residents. If you are outside these groups, a review at The Wright Practice can discuss whether vaccination is appropriate.
No. The pneumococcal vaccine is usually a single dose rather than a yearly one. It is offered to adults aged 65 and over, and to some younger adults with certain long-term conditions.
The NHS shingles vaccine is given as two doses, usually six to twelve months apart. It is offered to adults turning 65, to those aged 70 to 79 who have not yet had it, and to adults with a severely weakened immune system.
Yes. You can get shingles more than once, so vaccination is still worthwhile if you are eligible. Your clinician will usually advise waiting until the rash has fully cleared.
For most people, yes. Some medicines, such as steroids or immune-suppressing treatments, change which vaccines are recommended and when. Tell your clinician at The Wright Practice about everything you take so they can advise correctly.
Start by checking your NHS App or GP records, which often show your vaccination history. If gaps remain, a consultation at The Wright Practice can help you piece together what you have had and what may be worth catching up on.
No. The NHS flu programme runs until 31 March 2027, and a late vaccine still offers protection against flu that circulates later in winter. Earlier is better, but a later dose is worth having if you are eligible.
Not quite. Protection takes up to two weeks to build after flu vaccination, so it is sensible to be vaccinated before winter illnesses are widespread. Vaccines reduce your risk of serious illness but cannot guarantee you will avoid infection.
Knowing which winter vaccines you actually need is more useful than having every one on offer. Book a consultation with The Wright Practice today to review your records and plan your protection.
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