From NHS Essex
We’re already working closely with partners to prepare for the additional pressures winter brings.
One thing we can all help with now is promoting winter vaccinations. Last winter, flu vaccination uptake among people aged 65 and over across Essex was 73%, compared with 74.5% nationally, with uptake significantly below the national average among several other eligible groups, including younger children and pregnant women.
We want to improve that this year. Flu can cause serious illness, particularly for people with certain long-term conditions. Getting vaccinated before flu begins circulating widely is one of the simplest ways eligible people can protect themselves and help reduce pressure on NHS services this winter.
Please help us share the message that flu vaccination bookings are now open across Essex.
Full details from the NHS can be found here
Those eligible from 1 September 2026
- Pregnant women
- All children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2026
- Primary school aged children (Reception to Year 6)
- Secondary school aged children (Year 7 to Year 11)
- Young people aged 17+ who meet specific criteria
- All children from six months of age who are in clinical risk groups
Those eligible from 1 October 2026
- Adults aged 65 years and over
- Those aged 16-64 in clinical risk groups
- People with certain long term health conditions
- Residents in care homes
- Carers in receipt of Carer’s Allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person
- Close contacts of people who are immunocompromised
- Eligible frontline health and social care workers