Get Winter-Ready! Your guide to flu and Covid vaccinations for 2026/27
At Watton Medical Practice, we are preparing to offer flu and Covid vaccinations to eligible patients to help protect our community during the winter months. Our main flu vaccination clinics will take place on Saturday 3rd October 2026 and Saturday 24th October 2026, with eligible patients being invited directly. Vaccination remains the best way to reduce your risk of becoming seriously unwell from flu or Covid.
Who is eligible this year?
The eligibility criteria for the flu and Covid vaccination programmes are different, which means not everyone who is invited for a flu vaccination will also be eligible for a Covid vaccination.
Covid vaccination will be offered to:
- All adults aged 75 years and over
- Residents of care homes for older adults
- Patients aged 6 months and over who are immunosuppressed, as defined in national guidance
Flu vaccination is available to a much wider range of people.
From 1 September 2026, eligible patients include:
- Pregnant women
- All children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2026
- Children in clinical risk groups aged from 6 months to under 18 years
All primary school and secondary school-aged children (Reception to Year 11) will usually receive their flu vaccination through the school immunisation service rather than through the practice. Parents and carers will be contacted directly by the school immunisation team.
From 1 October 2026, eligible patients include:
- Patients aged 65 years and over
- Patients aged 18 years to under 65 years in clinical risk groups
- Residents of long-stay care homes
- Household contacts of immunocompromised patients
- Carers receiving Carer’s Allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person
The flu vaccination programme runs from 1 September 2026 to 31 March 2027.
The Covid vaccination programme runs from 1 October 2026 to 31 January 2027.
When are the clinics?
Watton Medical Practice will be holding dedicated Saturday flu vaccination clinics throughout October to help protect eligible patients before flu season reaches its peak.
Our planned flu vaccination clinics are:
- Saturday 3rd October 2026
- Saturday 24th October 2026
Eligible patients will be contacted directly with booking information and appointment availability.
Please wait for your invitation rather than contacting the practice. We will contact all eligible patients when appointments become available.
Where will you be vaccinated?
Your invitation will clearly explain:
- Which vaccine(s) you are eligible for
- Where your appointment will take place
- How to book or confirm your appointment
If you are unsure after receiving your invitation, please contact the practice and we will be happy to help.
What about housebound patients and care homes?
Patients who are genuinely housebound and eligible for vaccination will be contacted regarding a home visit. If you are eligible for both the flu and Covid vaccines, these may be offered during the same visit where clinically appropriate.
Please note that being housebound does not automatically make someone eligible for either vaccination. Eligibility is determined by national NHS guidance.
We also work closely with the care homes we support and will arrange visits to vaccinate residents who wish to receive their vaccinations.
What do I need to do?
Please do not worry if you are unsure whether you are eligible.
We will be contacting eligible patients directly to arrange appointments for our vaccination clinics on Saturday 3rd October and Saturday 24th October 2026. Invitations may be sent by text message, telephone or letter.
There is no need to contact Watton Medical Practice to request a vaccine appointment. If you are eligible, we will contact you.
Please keep an eye on our website and social media channels for updates throughout the vaccination campaign.
We look forward to helping keep our patients healthy and protected this winter.