Double NHS jabs for over-75s confirmed from October
Older people across the UK are being urged to take up the offer of two free NHS vaccinations this October as health officials warn that respiratory viruses are spreading earlier than usual, raising concerns about the pressure winter could place on already stretched healthcare services.
The autumn vaccination programme offers eligible people protection against both influenza and COVID-19, with adults aged 75 and over among those prioritised for the seasonal COVID-19 booster. The NHS flu vaccination programme also includes older adults aged 65 and over, alongside other groups considered at increased risk of complications.
The timing is particularly important this year, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), which has warned that flu activity is already trending higher than expected for this point in the season.
The warning comes amid a reported increase in COVID-19 infections and hospital admissions during September. Health officials are encouraging eligible people not to delay, pointing out that vaccines take time to build their protective effect.
For the NHS, the campaign is not simply about preventing individual illnesses. It is also part of a broader effort to reduce the number of patients who develop serious complications and require hospital treatment during the months when healthcare demand traditionally rises.
Covid and flu vaccinations are being offered to older people from October (Image: Getty)
With winter approaching, the message from health leaders is clear: people who qualify for the vaccinations should check their eligibility and arrange appointments rather than wait until infections become more widespread.
Over-75s among those eligible for the autumn COVID booster
The NHS autumn COVID-19 vaccination programme opened on October 1, according to the supplied report.
The programme is targeted at groups considered most vulnerable to severe illness, including adults aged 75 and over, residents in care homes for older adults, and people aged six months and above who are immunosuppressed.
The aim is to strengthen protection among those most likely to experience serious complications if infected.
Older adults can be more vulnerable to respiratory infections because the immune system’s response can weaken with age. Other health conditions may also increase the risk of complications, making preventive measures particularly important for people in these groups.
Vaccination does not guarantee that someone will avoid infection. However, it can help reduce the risk of severe disease and hospitalisation, which is why seasonal programmes focus on those most likely to need medical treatment.
The autumn COVID booster is being offered alongside the annual flu vaccination campaign, allowing eligible people to address two important seasonal infection risks.
Anyone unsure whether they qualify should consult their GP surgery, pharmacist or official NHS guidance. Eligibility criteria and appointment arrangements can differ between vaccination programmes, so it is important to check the rules that apply to each jab.
Flu cases are rising earlier than expected
Flu normally becomes more widespread during the colder months, with activity often reaching higher levels around December and January.
This seasonal pattern gives the NHS an opportunity to offer vaccinations during autumn, allowing people time to develop protection before infections become more common.
However, the UKHSA has warned that flu activity is already increasing earlier than usual this year.
An early rise does not necessarily mean the season will be more severe overall, but it can shorten the period available for people to become vaccinated before encountering the virus.
The UKHSA has stressed that protection takes time to develop. Receiving a vaccine shortly before exposure does not provide the same immediate protection as allowing the immune system time to respond.
That is why officials are urging eligible people to act sooner rather than wait for the traditional peak of winter illness.
Flu can cause fever, fatigue, muscle aches, coughing and other symptoms that may be particularly difficult for older people and those with underlying health conditions. In some cases, it can lead to complications requiring hospital treatment.
Vaccination is one of the principal measures used to reduce those risks.
The timing of the campaign therefore matters not only for individuals but also for the NHS, which must prepare for seasonal increases in demand while continuing to provide routine and emergency care.
COVID infections and hospital admissions have also increased
The warning about flu comes as the supplied report describes a rise in COVID-19 infections associated with the XFG variant, also known as Stratus.
According to the figures cited in the original article, 4,589 new infections were reported in September, compared with 1,374 in August. That represents an increase of approximately 234% using those figures, although the source describes it as a 230% rise.
The article also reports that COVID-related hospital admissions increased from 950 in August to 4,939 in September.
Those figures indicate a substantial reported increase, but they should be interpreted carefully. The precise meaning of infection counts depends on the surveillance system used, and changes in testing and reporting can affect the number of cases recorded. Hospital figures also require context about the reporting period and the definition of an admission involving COVID-19.
The source article states that more than half of positive tests were linked to the XFG strain.
It also notes that available evidence at the time did not indicate that XFG necessarily caused more severe illness than other circulating variants. That distinction is important: a variant does not need to cause more severe disease in each infected person to contribute to pressure on hospitals. If infections become more widespread, the total number of people needing treatment can rise even when individual risk remains broadly similar.
The NHS and UKHSA are therefore encouraging eligible people to take up vaccination rather than relying on assumptions about the severity of a particular variant.
COVID-19 continues to evolve, and protection can change over time. Seasonal vaccination is intended to help strengthen protection against serious outcomes among those most at risk.
Why the NHS is concerned about winter pressures
The vaccination campaign is taking place against a familiar backdrop of concern about winter demand.
Hospitals often experience additional pressure during colder months as respiratory infections spread, vulnerable patients become unwell and demand for urgent treatment rises. Staff must also manage the ordinary workload of emergency care, planned treatment and patients with long-term conditions.
Professor Frankie Swords, identified in the source article as the NHS National Medical Director, warned that staff were already seeing early signs of pressure, with more patients attending accident and emergency departments with flu and other respiratory viruses than would normally be expected at that point in the year.
He also acknowledged that some patients were waiting longer than the NHS would like.
His message was that eligible people should take up offers of flu, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and other recommended vaccinations to protect themselves and those around them.
The wider significance is that preventing illness can help reduce avoidable demand on healthcare services.
When fewer vulnerable people develop severe infections, hospitals may have more capacity to treat other urgent cases. Vaccination is not the only factor affecting winter pressures, but it is an important preventive measure that individuals can take before illness becomes widespread.
It is equally important to recognise that vaccination cannot eliminate seasonal infections or resolve every difficulty facing the NHS. Staffing, bed capacity, discharge arrangements and access to primary care all influence how effectively hospitals manage demand.
The seasonal programme is therefore one part of a broader public-health response.
Who can get the flu jab from October?
The supplied report says the NHS flu vaccination programme opened to adults aged 65 and over on October 1.
Other eligible groups include people aged 18 to 65 who fall within specified clinical risk categories, residents of long-stay residential care homes, eligible carers receiving Carer’s Allowance, close contacts of immunocompromised people and frontline workers in social care settings.
The exact criteria can vary by programme and may be updated. People should check current NHS guidance to confirm their eligibility rather than assume that the rules for the flu vaccine are identical to those for the COVID booster.
The NHS may contact eligible people with information about arranging an appointment. Depending on local arrangements, flu vaccination may be available through a GP surgery or a participating pharmacy.
Some people may be offered both vaccines during the same appointment, where appropriate. Others may receive separate appointments depending on availability and local delivery arrangements.
People should not assume that an invitation for one vaccine automatically confirms eligibility for the other. Checking with a healthcare professional can help clarify which vaccinations are recommended and when they can be received.
Can the flu and COVID vaccines be given together?
Seasonal vaccination programmes are often organised to make it easier for eligible people to receive more than one recommended vaccine.
Whether flu and COVID-19 vaccinations can be administered during the same visit depends on the current programme guidance and the individual’s circumstances. Healthcare professionals can advise on the appropriate arrangements.
For older people, reducing the number of separate appointments may make it easier to complete recommended vaccinations, particularly for those with mobility difficulties or who rely on family members and carers for transport.
However, convenience should not come at the expense of checking individual eligibility and medical advice.
People with questions about previous vaccine reactions, current illness or other medical circumstances should discuss them with the vaccinator before receiving an injection.
The central message is that eligible people should not delay unnecessarily simply because they are waiting for winter to arrive.
How long does vaccine protection take to develop?
The UKHSA has emphasised that vaccines do not provide their full protective effect immediately.
It generally takes around two weeks for the immune system to build a response after vaccination. The precise level of protection can vary according to the vaccine, the individual and the infection involved.
This delay explains why early vaccination can be valuable when respiratory viruses begin circulating ahead of their usual seasonal peak.
Someone who waits until infections are widespread may become exposed before their immune response has had sufficient time to develop.
Vaccination also does not provide complete or permanent protection. The viruses responsible for flu and COVID-19 can change, and immunity can decline over time. Seasonal programmes are designed around those changing risks and the groups most likely to benefit.
The aim is to reduce the likelihood of serious illness during a period when infections are expected to circulate more widely.
Alongside vaccination, ordinary precautions can help reduce transmission. People who feel unwell should avoid exposing vulnerable individuals where possible, maintain good hand hygiene and follow current health advice. Anyone experiencing severe or concerning symptoms should seek appropriate medical guidance.
These measures complement vaccination rather than replace it.
Why older adults are a priority
Adults aged 75 and over are among the groups prioritised for the autumn COVID-19 booster because the risk of severe outcomes generally increases with age.
Older people may also be more likely to have conditions that make respiratory infections harder to manage. An infection that causes relatively mild symptoms in a healthy younger adult can result in more serious complications for someone who is frail or has several underlying health problems.
Care-home residents may face additional risks because respiratory infections can spread quickly in shared living environments, where many residents have increased medical vulnerability.
Vaccination programmes therefore focus resources on groups where the potential benefit is greatest.
That does not mean younger people are never seriously affected by flu or COVID-19. Rather, seasonal eligibility rules are designed to prioritise those who face the highest risk and are most likely to benefit from the available vaccines.
People who are immunosuppressed may also respond differently to vaccination, depending on their condition and treatment. They should follow the recommendations provided by their healthcare team.
What eligible people should do now
With flu activity reportedly increasing earlier than usual and COVID-19 infections also rising, the NHS and UKHSA are encouraging eligible people to check their vaccination arrangements.
Older adults should confirm whether they qualify for the autumn COVID booster and the seasonal flu jab, then contact their GP surgery or a participating pharmacy as appropriate.
Anyone caring for an older relative may be able to help by checking appointment information, arranging transport or reminding them to discuss eligibility with a healthcare professional.
People living in care homes should receive information through the relevant care provider or vaccination service.
Those who are uncertain about the recommendations should consult official NHS guidance rather than rely on social media posts or outdated information.
It is also important not to interpret an early rise in respiratory viruses as proof that a severe national outbreak is inevitable. Surveillance data can change, and the eventual course of the season remains uncertain. The reason officials are encouraging early vaccination is to improve preparedness, not to suggest that every person will become seriously ill.
A timely reminder before winter arrives
The October rollout of flu and COVID-19 vaccinations is an important part of the UK’s preparation for the colder months.
The reported rise in flu activity, combined with an increase in COVID-19 infections and hospital admissions, has prompted health officials to urge eligible people not to wait until winter before arranging protection.
For adults aged 75 and over, the autumn COVID booster is intended to strengthen protection against severe illness. The flu vaccine is also available to eligible older adults, including those aged 65 and over, alongside other groups identified in the programme guidance.
The message is practical rather than complicated: check eligibility, arrange an appointment and allow time for protection to develop.
Vaccination cannot prevent every infection, and it will not remove all the pressures facing hospitals. But helping vulnerable people avoid severe illness can benefit individuals, families, care homes and the wider NHS.
As respiratory viruses begin circulating, taking up recommended vaccinations early offers eligible people an opportunity to reduce their risk before winter demand increases.
For those who qualify, the advice from health officials is to act now rather than wait for the season to reach its peak.