Vaccines
As we get older, our bodies find it harder to fight off illnesses on their own. Keeping up to date with your vaccines can help you stay healthy and fight off viruses faster.
Why are vaccines important for older people?
Vaccines are an important and effective way to prevent many infectious diseases. As we age, our bodies become less able to fight off infections and vaccines provide a way to support our bodies to do this more effectively. This is why the NHS automatically offers several free types of vaccines to older people.
Certain health conditions or a weakened immune system may mean our bodies find it harder to fight off infection. So, you might be eligible for some vaccines regardless of your age, if you have these conditions.
Getting an infectious disease like flu, shingles or pneumonia can have a severe impact on older people, but getting vaccinated can make them less dangerous for older people. Vaccines can also stop diseases from spreading in the community.
How do vaccines work?
Different vaccines work in different ways, but they all teach your immune system how to react to certain diseases so if you do catch something, your body is better able to fight that disease. They can prevent us from contracting a virus altogether or reduce the symptoms if we do catch it.
What are the common side effects of vaccines?
Vaccines can cause some side effects – these are normal and shouldn't last long. The most common side-effects are:
- a sore arm or area where the needle went in
- feeling unwell or developing a high temperature
- headache, fever, flu-like symptoms.
Are vaccines safe for older people?
Yes. All vaccines available on the NHS have been rigorously tested for their safety and continue to be monitored after they’ve been introduced, to ensure they still work and don't lead to any new side effects.
Why is there so much misinformation about vaccines?
There's a lot of misinformation about vaccines both online and offline. It’s important that you get your vaccine information from trusted sources, backed by science and evidence.
Places like the World Health Organisation or the NHS website are good places to start. All the current evidence tells us that getting vaccinated is safer than not getting vaccinated.
How do I book a flu or COVID-19 vaccine?
If you have received an invitation for a flu or COVID-19 vaccine from the NHS, via text or letter, you will be able to book your appointment via The National Booking Service. People who have not received a notification may also be eligible to book using the service.
You can use the service to:
- check if you need an appointment
- book an appointment
- check your existing appointment details
- change your appointment
- cancel your appointment.
You can also call 119, free of charge, to book over the phone.
There are often changes to the eligibility criteria for different vaccines, so it’s a good idea to check you are still eligible before booking. The NHS website sets out whether your age, health condition or medication means you are eligible, and your GP practice or pharmacist will confirm this before giving you the vaccine.
Click here to check the NHS website.
Booking other vaccines
For other vaccinations, such as Shingles and the pneumococcal vaccine, your GP should contact you to book an appointment as soon as you are eligible. This will usually be by letter, text, phone call or email. You should contact your GP if you think you are eligible for a vaccine, but have not yet been contacted.
Book, change, or cancel a COVID-19 vaccination appointment online - NHS
Book, change or cancel a RSV vaccination appointment at a pharmacy - NHS
Book, change or cancel a free NHS flu vaccination at a pharmacy - NHS
Which vaccines am I eligible for?
Below is a table explaining the different vaccinations that older people can get for free on the NHS. You should be invited for the below when/if you are eligible, but if you're not sure or think you have missed a vaccination, get in touch with your GP.
Some vaccinations can be delivered for free at your local pharmacy.
|
Vaccine |
Eligibility |
Timing |
Doses |
|
Flu vaccine |
|
Autumn/winter – usually offered in September/October |
One dose every year |
|
COVID-19 Vaccination |
|
Currently two booster programmes one in spring and one in winter |
1 booster 2 times a year |
|
Pneumococcal vaccine (helps protect against bacterial infections like pneumonia & meningitis) |
|
All year round |
One dose (some may need more) |
|
Shingles Vaccine |
|
All year round |
Two doses offered between 6-12 months apart |
|
RSV Vaccine |
|
All year round |
Usually one dose |
We're here to help
We offer support through our free Advice Line. Lines are open 8am-7pm, 365 days a year. We also have specialist advisers at over 120 local Age UKs. You can contact us on 0800 678 1602.
We work with Wordskii to offer free interpreted calls. Visit the Wordskii website and select the language you would like to take the call in from the menu at the top right of the screen. This will tell you the best number to call.