Flu and COVID-19 vaccines will be offered to those eligible between September and December. It’s strongly recommended you get vaccinated if you’re offered this winter. If you’re eligible, you’ll receive a letter, SMS or email with appointment details or information about how to book one. You may receive information about your appointment at a different time than previous years.
Please do not try to book an appointment until you’ve been invited by NHSScotland.
For more information, please visit www.nhsinform.scot/wintervaccines
Eligibility
For winter 2024, both COVID-19 and flu vaccination will be offered to the following groups in Scotland:
· Residents in care homes for older adults
· All adults aged 65 years and over
· Individuals aged 6 months and over who are in a clinical at risk group (as defined in tables 3 and 4 in the COVID-19 chapter of the Green Book), including pregnant women
· Frontline Health and Social Care Workers
· Staff in care homes for older adults
As per the 2024 Adult and Child Flu CMO letter, people in the following groups will be offered flu vaccination only:
· Those aged 18-64 years with an eligible flu-only clinical risk condition
· Unpaid carers, including young carers under the age of 16 years
· Household contacts of those with immunosuppression
· School age pupils (primary and secondary)
· Children aged 2-5 (not at school) • Children aged 6 months to 2 years at-risk
· Poultry workers
· Non-frontline NHS workers
· Asylum seekers living in Home Office hotel or B&B accommodation
· Those experiencing homelessness
· Those experiencing substance misuse
· All prisoners within the Scottish prison estate
The Scottish Government has decided to end the offer to other extended groups which were added as part of the pandemic response, notably those aged 50-64, teachers, and prison staff.
Frontline health and social care workers and staff in care homes for older adults
Frontline health & social care workers (HSCWs) and staff in care homes for older adults will be offered both COVID-19 and flu vaccination this winter.
Unpaid carers and household contacts of the immunosuppressed
From winter 2024, as per JCVI advice, Unpaid carers and household contacts of the immunosuppressed are no longer eligible for COVID-19 vaccination although, they remain eligible for flu vaccination.