Other Immunisations

Seasonal Influenza Vaccine

The flu vaccine helps protect against flu. Flu can be a serious or life-threatening illness. People who are at higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu will be offered the vaccine. This vaccine is due every year in autumn and early winter.

You can get the free NHS flu vaccine if you:

  • are aged 65 or over (including those who will be 65 by 31 March 2025)
  • have certain long-term health conditions
  • are pregnant
  • live in a care home
  • are the main carer for an older or disabled person, or receive a carer’s allowance
  • live with someone who has a weakened immune system

Frontline health and social care workers can get a flu vaccine through their employer.

Pneumococcal Vaccine

The pneumococcal vaccine helps protect against serious illnesses like pneumonia and meningitis. It’s recommended for people at higher risk of these illnesses, such as babies and adults aged 65 and over.

The pneumococcal vaccine helps protect against some types of bacterial infections. Some of these can cause serious illnesses like:

  • meningitis (an infection in the brain and spinal cord)
  • sepsis (a life-threatening reaction to an infection)
  • pneumonia (an infection in the lungs)

It can also help protect against other illnesses such as sinusitis and ear infections.

Shingles Vaccine

The shingles vaccine helps protect against shingles. It’s recommended for all adults turning 65, those aged 70 to 79 and those aged 50 and over with a severely weakened immune system.

Shingles is a common condition that causes a painful rash. It can sometimes lead to serious problems such as long-lasting pain, hearing loss or blindness.

You’re more likely to get shingles, and it’s more likely to cause serious problems, as you get older or if you have a severely weakened immune system.

The shingles vaccine helps:

  • reduce your chances of getting shingles
  • reduce your chances of getting serious problems if you do get shingles

The shingles vaccine is recommended for some older adults and people with a severely weakened immune system.

RSV Vaccine

The RSV vaccine helps protect against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a common virus that can make babies and older adults seriously ill. It’s recommended during pregnancy and for adults aged 75 to 79.

RSV is a common cause of coughs and colds. Most people get it several times during their life.

It usually gets better by itself, but in some people (especially babies and older adults) it can cause illnesses such as:

These illnesses can cause serious breathing problems. They may need to be treated in hospital and can be life-threatening.

Getting RSV can also make your symptoms worse if you have a lung condition, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD).

The RSV vaccine helps reduce the risk of serious breathing problems like pneumonia and bronchiolitis.

The RSV vaccine is recommended if:

  • you’re pregnant – the vaccine is recommended during every pregnancy (from 28 weeks onwards) to help protect your baby after they’re born
  • you’re aged 75 to 79

Whooping Cough (Pertussis) Vaccine

Whooping cough (pertussis) rates have risen recently. Babies who are too young to start their vaccinations are at greatest risk.

Whooping cough can be serious for babies and may lead to complications resulting in hospitalisation and even death.

Pregnant women can help protect their babies by getting vaccinated.

You should usually have the whooping cough vaccine around the time of your mid-pregnancy scan (usually at 20 weeks pregnant), but you can have it from 16 weeks.

To help give the best protection to your baby, you should have the vaccine before 32 weeks. If you miss out, you can still have the vaccine later.

For further information about the Whooping Cough Vaccine please visit Whooping cough vaccination in pregnancy – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Men ACWY Vaccine

The MenACWY vaccine helps protect against life-threatening illnesses like meningitis and sepsis. It’s offered to teenagers in school, but can be given up to the age of 25 if it’s been missed.

The MenACWY vaccine is recommended for all teenagers. It’s usually given to children when they’re 13 or 14 years old (school year 9 or 10).

If you missed having the vaccine when you were at school, you can get it up to the age of 25 years.

It’s also available for some people who are at increased risk of getting meningitis because of:

  • a medical condition
  • work
  • travel
  • close contact with someone who’s infected

For further information about the Men ACWY Vaccine please visit MenACWY vaccine – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) Vaccine

The MMR vaccine gives long-term protection against measles, mumps and rubella (german measles)
These 3 infections spread easily between people and can lead to serious problems including meningitis, blindness and hearing loss.

If you’re pregnant, getting measles can cause premature birth, miscarriage or still birth. And getting rubella can cause serious problems for your baby such as damage to their sight and hearing.

2 doses of the MMR vaccine gives you long-term protection.

Getting vaccinated also helps protect people who cannot be vaccinated, such as unborn babies, newborn babies and anyone with a weakened immune system.

The MMR vaccine is recommended for all babies and young children, but older children and adults can have it if they were not vaccinated when they were younger.

For further information about the MMR Vaccine please visit MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

HPV Vaccine

The HPV vaccine helps protect against human papillomavirus (HPV). It’s recommended for children aged 12 to 13 years old and people at higher risk from HPV.

The HPV vaccine is recommended for children aged 12 to 13 years old and people at higher risk from HPV.

For further information about the HPV Vaccine please visit HPV vaccine – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Tetanus

Everyone should have a tetanus immunisation. A course of three injections (normally given in infancy) followed by two booster doses ten years apart gives protection. A booster is then only needed after a penetrating injury.

Hepatitis B

For those patients whose jobs put them at risk can have a hepatitis B immunisation. However we unable to give any occupational vaccines. Please contact your HR department to find out where you can get your vaccine.

For more Information about other immunisations you should have, please visit the NHS website.