NHS Covid-19 Vaccine Eligibility for Autumn/Winter 2025
For autumn 2025, NHS COVID-19 vaccination will be offered to:
- adults aged 75 years and over
- residents in care homes for older adults
- individuals who are immunosuppressed aged 6 months and over
This represents a change from the autumn 2024 programme, which also included adults aged 65 to 74 and all those aged 6 months and over in a clinical risk group.
The vaccine should usually be offered no earlier than around 6 months after the last vaccine dose. If you are eligible, you can get protection from an autumn COVID-19 vaccination even if you have not taken up a COVID-19 vaccine offer in the past.
Eligibility for the immunosuppressed
We understand that having a weakened immune system (immunosuppression) is a lot less straight forward than the other criteria. Looking online can cause even more confusion, as people might see themselves (and be considered by others) as immunosuppressed but might not fit the immunosuppression criteria for vaccination.
So, what are the immunosuppression criteria? Eligibility is outlined in Chapter 14a of the Green Book, a document published by UKHSA specifically for public health professionals. It can be a complicated document for non-experts, so we’ve listed some of the groups here:
- Organ, bone marrow or stem cell transplant patients
- Those being treated with systemic steroids for more than a month
- Those living with HIV
- Those receiving immunosuppressive or immunomodulating biological therapy, including children who are about to receive therapy
- Those undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy
- Those requiring long-term treatment for immunosuppression
- Those with a history of haematological malignancy including chronic leukaemia, lymphomas, and leukaemia
- Those with genetic disorders affecting the immune system
While this list summarises some major groups, it does not cover everything. Please check online at nhs.uk/get-vaccine to see if you are eligible.
How to access the NHS COVID-19 autumn vaccination
COVID-19 spreads more easily in winter because we spend more time indoors with others.
Appointments for the COVID-19 vaccination are open now.
If you are eligible, having your COVID-19 vaccination this autumn will give you protection from serious COVID illness over winter.
PRIVATE COVID-19 VACCINATION
If you are not eligible for NHS Vaccination, you may still wish to protect yourself and others by getting vaccinated. Private COVID-19 vaccines are available from our West Totton branch for £90 for adults and children over 12 years old.
These are generally available as a walk in service, but due to high demand we advise you to check with the pharmacy team to ensure supplies are available before you visit. Please call the dispensary on 02380 870582.