Flu and COVID-19 vaccinations: winter 2025/26

Updated 21 August 2025

Parents: For information on the school flu vaccine programme, please go to your dedicated page here

CAVUHB employees: For information on the staff flu vaccine programme, please go to your dedicated page here

Flu vaccine

Flu can be very serious. It is caused by a virus which is spread by coughs and sneezes.

Symptoms of flu can be mild but can also lead to more serious illnesses such as bronchitis and pneumonia (lung infections), which may need treatment in hospital. 

Flu is very infectious, and symptoms can come on very quickly. Symptoms of flu include a high temperature, tiredness and weakness, headache, aches and pains and a cough. More information about flu is available from: NHS 111 Wales - Health A-Z : Flu (external site) 

There are outbreaks of flu most winters, especially in hospitals and care homes. 

In a normal winter, thousands of people will die from flu-related illnesses in the UK. Having a flu vaccine every year is one of the best ways to protect against flu. 

Eligibility for the flu vaccine

If any of the following apply to you, even if you feel healthy, you are more likely to get complications from flu if you catch it, and you are advised to have a flu vaccine if: 

You are pregnant

You are aged 65 or over

You are aged six months to 64 years and have a long-term health condition that puts you at increased risk from flu, including but not limited to:

- Diabetes

- A heart problem

- A chest complaint or breathing difficulties, including COPD and asthma that requires regular steroid inhalers or tablets

- Kidney disease (from stage 3)

- A weak immune system due to disease or treatment (and also their close contacts)

- Liver disease 

- Had a stroke or mini stroke

- A neurological condition like Parkinson’s disease, or motor neurone disease

- A missing spleen or a problem with it

- Learning disability 

- Severe mental illness

- Morbidly obese. Defined as those with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or above, aged 16 or over

- Epilepsy

- You live in a care home

- You are homeless

- You are a poultry worker at high risk 

The following groups are also advised to have a flu vaccine to protect them and the people around them:

Children aged two and three years old (age on 31 August 2024)

Children and young people in school from Reception class to Year 11

Carers

People working directly with patients/clients in health or social care

First responders and members of voluntary organisations providing planned emergency first aid

Those who live with someone who has a weak immune system

Most children and young people will get a nasal spray vaccine as this is the best flu vaccine for them. It is a fine mist sprayed up the nose and can be given from the age of two. 

If your child is eligible for a flu vaccine, you should be contacted by their GP surgery or school nurse. If you think your child might have missed their vaccine, contact the school nurse if they are school aged, or GP surgery if they are not in school.

If you think you might have missed the invitation for a flu vaccine, contact your GP or your community pharmacy.

How to get your flu vaccine

Children two or three years (age on 31 August 2024)	GP surgery (NB, in some areas, three-year-olds are offered the vaccine in nursery)
Primary and secondary school children	Primary and secondary school
Children aged four or older not in school	Phone the school immunisation number on 02920 907661 or 02920 907664 to book, or make an appointment with your GP surgery
Children aged 6 months to under 18 years with long term health condition	GP surgery (NB. primary and secondary school aged children will be offered their flu vaccine in school)
Pregnant women	GP surgery or some community pharmacies
Long term health conditions (adults)	GP surgery or some community pharmacies
People aged 65 or over	GP surgery or some community pharmacies
Unpaid carers	GP surgery or some community pharmacies
Domiciliary carers	Community pharmacy (or in some areas, there are other arrangements)
Care home staff	Community pharmacy (or in some areas, there are other arrangements)
Health and social care workers	Via employer
Poultry workers at highest risk	Community pharmacy

Ideally, the flu vaccine should be given before flu starts to spread in the community. However, it can still be given at a later date.  

COVID-19 vaccine

COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a virus. Most people infected with the virus will have mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without needing treatment. 

It can be more serious in older people and those with certain health conditions, such as having a weakened immune system. If these people catch the virus, they can become seriously ill and might need medical care or hospitalisation.    
 
Some common symptoms of COVID-19 include a continuous cough, a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste, aches and pains, a headache, tiredness and weakness. More information about COVID-19 is available from Guidance for people with symptoms of a respiratory infection, including COVID-19 | GOV.WALES (external site).  
 
Having the COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to protect yourself against the virus. Over time, viruses can change and your levels of protection can reduce. Getting vaccinated will help you have less severe symptoms and get better faster. 

Eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine

Eligibility for COVID-19 vaccination this winter will now replicate the cohorts previously eligible under the 2025 spring vaccination programme. It will include: 

those aged 75 years and older

those who are immunosuppressed

those who reside in care homes for older adults.

How to get your COVID-19 vaccine

The COVID-19 vaccine may be offered at your GP surgery, local community pharmacy, vaccination centre, or through a mobile team.

If you are housebound or live in a care home and cannot get to a GP surgery or vaccination centre, there are plans in place for a mobile service to bring the vaccination to you. Hospital patients who are due flu vaccination may be offered it during their hospital stay.

You will be advised where to get your vaccine once you receive your appointment. If you can’t attend, please let the booking team know so they can give your appointment to someone else. The team’s contact details are on the appointment letter.