Stay well this winter

Book your winter vaccines

Flu and Covid-19 are different viruses but they both spread more easily in winter and can lead to serious illness.

Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself, those around you and the NHS.

The following people are now eligible for a free flu vaccine and a Covid-19 vaccine: 

• people aged 65 years old or over
• people aged 6 months to under 65 years in certain clinical risk groups
• those in a long-stay residential care home
• paid and unpaid carers
• frontline health and social care professionals
• pregnant women
• close contacts of immunocompromised people.

The following people are eligible for a free flu vaccine:

• all children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2023 (nasal spray)
• school children from Reception to Year 6 (nasal spray) and from Year 7 to 11.

If you or someone you know falls into these categories, book your vaccines now.

Getting your vaccines is free, available across Medway and appointments can take less than 10 minutes.

Where you can get vaccines

Vaccines are available across Medway including doctor (GP) surgeries, pharmacies and walk-in-clinics.

Midwifery services can offer the flu jab for pregnant women. 

Find out how to book your Covid-19 vaccine, flu vaccine and MMR vaccine by visiting the Integrated Care Board website.

Getting your flu vaccine if you are not eligible for free treatment

If you are not eligible for a free flu jab, you can still pay for a jab at your local pharmacy (subject to availability). Speak to your local pharmacy for more details.

Ways to stay safe

The colder temperatures can increase the risk of the winter viruses spreading. It's important to:

• keep warm when you are outside
• wash hands often with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds
• use tissues to trap germs when you cough or sneeze
• bin used tissues as soon as possible.