Last updated: 18 December 2025
Next review: 18 December 2026
Flu vaccines are offered on the NHS every year in autumn or early winter to protect people at higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu and to reduce the spread. Find out who is eligible for the free flu vaccine on the NHS website. If you are not eligible to get a free flu vaccination, you may be able to pay for it at some pharmacies.
Book your flu vaccination on the NHS website
This vaccine helps protect against Covid-19, which can be a serious or life-threatening illness for some people. Find out who is eligible for the free Covid-19 vaccine on the NHS website. It's usually offered on the NHS in spring and early winter to people who need extra protection from Covid-19.
Book your Covid-19 vaccination on the NHS website
If you're eligible for one, you can also get a flu or Covid-19 vaccine through Waltham Forest’s vaccine clinics, hosted seasonally by our health partners.
Upcoming clinics:
The following vaccinations are recommended for adults and older people in addition to Covid-19 and flu vaccinations. GP practices are responsible for inviting you to get these vaccinations. These vaccinations will usually take place at your GP practice. You may wish to contact your GP about getting the RSV vaccination rather than waiting for your GP to contact you.
You can read more about each vaccine and what it protects against by following the links in the table below or by speaking to your GP:
| Age | Vaccines |
|---|---|
| 65 years | Pneumococcal vaccine Shingles vaccine (if you turned 65 on or after 1 September 2023) |
| 70 to 79 years | Shingles vaccine |
| 75 to 79 years | RSV vaccine |
During pregnancy you will be offered vaccinations to protect both you and your baby from a range of infectious diseases. You will be invited to get these vaccinations either by your GP practice or at antenatal appointments that you attend at hospitals. The flu vaccination is also available at some pharmacies in the borough.
Some vaccines are only available on the NHS for groups of people who need extra protection. If you think you or your child are eligible for any of these vaccinations and have not yet received them, please speak to your GP practice.
You can read more about each vaccine and what it protects against by clicking the links in the table below, speaking to your GP:
| Vaccines for at-risk babies and children | |
|---|---|
| At-risk group | Vaccines |
| Babies born to mothers who have hepatitis B | Hepatitis B vaccine at birth and 4 weeks, also at 12 months for babies born on or before 30 June 2024 |
| Children born in areas of the country where there are high numbers of TB cases | BCG tuberculosis (TB) vaccine at around 4 weeks |
| Children whose parents or grandparents were born in a country with many cases of TB | BCG tuberculosis (TB) vaccine at around 4 weeks |
| Children 6 months to 17 years old with long-term health conditions | Children's flu vaccine every year |
| Children 6 months to 17 years old who have a weakened immune system | COVID-19 vaccine, usually given in spring and winter |
| Vaccines for people with underlying health conditions | |
|---|---|
| At-risk group | Vaccines |
| Problems with the spleen, for example caused by sickle cell disease or coeliac disease | MenACWY vaccine MenB vaccine Pneumococcal vaccine Flu vaccine |
| Cochlear implants | Pneumococcal vaccine |
| Chronic respiratory and heart conditions, such as severe asthma or heart failure | Pneumococcal vaccine Flu vaccine |
| Chronic neurological conditions, such as Parkinson's disease or a learning disability | Pneumococcal vaccine Flu vaccine |
| Diabetes | Pneumococcal vaccine Flu vaccine |
| Chronic kidney disease | Pneumococcal vaccine Flu vaccine Hepatitis B vaccine |
| Chronic liver conditions | Pneumococcal vaccine Flu vaccine Hepatitis A vaccine Hepatitis B vaccine |
| Haemophilia | Hepatitis A vaccine Hepatitis B vaccine |
| Weakened immune system caused by treatments or disease | Pneumococcal vaccine Flu vaccine Shingles vaccine (if aged 50 or over) |
| Complement disorders or people receiving complement inhibitor therapies | MenACWY vaccine MenB vaccine Pneumococcal vaccine Flu vaccine |
| People with a weakened immune system, and people who live in a care home for older adults | COVID-19 vaccine, usually given in spring and winter |
