Winter is coming and so are the respiratory illnesses that circulate during this time of the year so the message from the Public Health Agency (PHA) is don’t let your protection fade and get your flu and COVID-19 vaccines if eligible.

The life-saving vaccination programme, which will help protect the community against deadly viruses ahead of winter, commences on Monday 7th October. It will see flu and COVID-19 vaccines offered to over a million people in Northern Ireland before the end of the year, starting with those in care homes, who are some of the most vulnerable members of our community.

Dr Joanne McClean, Director of Public Health at the PHA, is urging everyone in the eligible groups to get ready for winter by taking up the offer of free vaccination when invited.

“Every year respiratory viruses such as flu and COVID-19 evolve, and some of these can result in serious illness and death. Vaccines are the most effective way to prevent infectious diseases as they teach our immune system how to recognise and fight viruses,” said Dr McClean.

“Being vaccinated against both viruses will not only help to protect you and those around you from flu and COVID-19, but will help protect everyone from a potentially devastating double threat this winter.”

The programme will be rolled out by GPs, community pharmacies and Health and Social Care Trusts. Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said: “Vaccination provides vital protection for those at highest risk of suffering serious illness and hospitalisation from influenza and COVID-19.

“It also provides protection for staff who we rely on to provide crucial healthcare to our population across frontline health and social care services." “As we approach the winter season, I would urge everyone who falls into an eligible group to take up the offer of free vaccination when invited.”

Flu vaccine

If you are eligible for flu vaccination, you need to be vaccinated every year as the antibodies that protect you from flu decline over time, and flu strains change from year to year. It can take up to two weeks for your immunity to build up fully after you have had your flu vaccine.

COVID-19 vaccine

The COVID-19 autumn booster is being offered to people at higher risk of severe illness should they get coronavirus. By taking up the vaccine this autumn, you will increase your protection ahead of the winter months, when respiratory viruses are typically at their peak.

Vaccine programme arrangements

Given that the two vaccination programmes will be running at the same time, with slightly different delivery arrangements and eligible groups for each, we are urging people to work with our health service, whether it is the school nursing service, your GP surgery, community pharmacy or another route of vaccination, so that both programmes can be delivered in a timely and well-managed way.

Some people may be offered the flu jab and COVID-19 booster vaccine at the same appointment. It is safe and effective to receive it in this way. Everyone who is eligible for vaccination should make themselves aware of their own GP surgery’s, community pharmacist’s or trust’s vaccination arrangements, or look out for the consent form for their children coming home in schoolbags.

Dr McClean concluded: “The flu and COVID-19 vaccines are free and could make a big difference to your health, and the health of those closest to you. It is really important that ‘at risk’ groups are vaccinated as they can develop severe illness and complications if infected.

“The message is clear – don’t let your protection fade this winter if you’re eligible for either the flu vaccine, COVID-19 vaccine or both.”

Eligible groups for COVID-19 autumn booster vaccine in 2024/25 are:

• All adults aged 65 years and over;
• persons aged six months to 64 years in a clinical risk group, as laid out in the Immunisation Green Book COVID-19 chapter (Green Book);
• pregnant women;
• residents and staff in a care home for older adults;
• frontline health and social care workers.

Those eligible for HSC flu vaccine in 2024/25 are:

• All adults aged 65 years and over;
• persons aged six months to 64 years in a clinical risk group, as laid out in the Immunisation Green Book influenza chapter (Green Book);
• pregnant women;
• residents and staff in a care home for older adults;
• frontline health and social care workers.
• all preschool children aged two to four years on 1 September 2024;
• all primary and secondary school children (up to and including year 12);
• carers;
• close contacts of immunocompromised individuals.

Further details on the winter vaccination programme can be found at www.nidirect.gov.uk/wintervaccines.