Winter Vaccinations

At HHCC we want to make it as simple as possible for you and your family to stay well and protected through the winter months. Vaccination remains the most effective way to reduce your risk of infection or, if you do catch it, to lessen the severity of illness.

Why winter vaccination matters

• Flu: Usually unpleasant but can sometimes be severe or life threatening, especially for older adults and those with long term health conditions.
• Pneumonia: A serious lung infection that can also lead to complications such as sepsis (blood poisoning).
• Covid 19, RSV and Shingles: Other winter illnesses that can cause significant illness but can be prevented or reduced with vaccination.

Flu vaccination 2025 to 26

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has confirmed that the influenza B/Yamagata strain is no longer circulating. As a result, flu vaccines this year are trivalent (protecting against three strains rather than four).

At HHCC, we believe everyone can benefit from a flu vaccination and are offering it to all adults and children from 6 months of age. We have secured supplies of both cell-based and adjuvanted vaccines to cover every age group.

For the 2025 to 26 season we will be providing:

• Children 6 months to 18 years: Cell-based inactivated influenza vaccine (IIVc)
• Adults 18 to 64 years: Cell-based inactivated influenza vaccine (IIVc)
• Adults 50 to 64 years: Cell-based inactivated influenza vaccine (IIVc) or Adjuvanted inactivated influenza vaccine (aIIV)
• Adults 65 years and over: Adjuvanted inactivated influenza vaccine (aIIV)

The adjuvanted vaccine includes an extra ingredient that boosts the immune response, making it particularly effective for older adults, who may not respond as strongly to standard vaccines.

Children are routinely offered the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) as a nasal spray on the NHS from age 2 years. At HHCC, we cannot provide the nasal spray, but we can offer a suitable injectable vaccine (IIVc) for children from 6 months upwards who are not eligible for, or cannot receive, LAIV.

The NHS continues to provide flu vaccination to groups including older adults, children, pregnant women and people with long term conditions. Healthy adults aged 50 to 64 years will not be invited again this season, as in previous years. At HHCC, vaccination is available privately for this group and for anyone else who wishes to be protected.

Flu vaccines will be available at HHCC from mid September 2025.

Flu vaccines at a glance – 2025/26

Pneumonia (PCV20) vaccine

The pneumococcal bacteria can cause serious illnesses such as pneumonia, meningitis and sepsis. The new pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV20) provides protection against 20 strains of these bacteria and is now the preferred vaccine, replacing the older PPV23. PCV20 offers broader coverage and longer-lasting immunity and is usually given as a single injection.

The NHS will begin introducing PCV20 towards the end of 2025, mainly for older adults and those in certain higher-risk groups. At HHCC, PCV20 is available now for anyone aged 2 years and over, including people who previously received PPV23 more than one year ago and who would like to benefit from the broader protection PCV20 offers.

Covid 19 booster

Covid 19 continues to circulate each winter and can cause a wide range of symptoms including cough, fever, fatigue, sore throat and loss of taste or smell. For some people, especially older adults and those with underlying conditions, it can lead to severe complications such as pneumonia.

At HHCC we are offering the Pfizer Comirnaty vaccine as a booster dose. It can be given at the same appointment as a flu vaccination, provided it has been at least three months since your last Covid vaccine. You only need to be well on the day of vaccination, and there is no longer a minimum waiting period after recovering from Covid infection.

The NHS is focusing its booster programme on certain age and risk groups. At HHCC, Covid vaccination is available now to all patients aged 12 years and over.

RSV vaccination

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a common winter virus that for most people feels like a heavy cold. However, in older adults and vulnerable groups it can lead to more serious illness including pneumonia and bronchiolitis. The RSV vaccine is given as a single injection and provides long-term protection, although it should not be given on the same day as a flu vaccine, with at least 7 days recommended between the two.

RSV vaccination has recently been introduced on the NHS and is gradually being rolled out to older age groups. At HHCC, RSV vaccination is available now for all adults aged 60 years and over.

Shingles vaccination

Shingles is caused by reactivation of the chickenpox virus and typically presents as a painful rash. Some people also develop long-term nerve pain afterwards, known as post-herpetic neuralgia.

At HHCC we offer the Shingrix vaccine, which has been shown to be more than 90% effective. It is given as a course of two doses at least eight weeks apart.

On the NHS, shingles vaccination is available in stages to certain age groups, mainly those aged 65 years and those between 70 and 80 years. It is not usually repeated for people who have already had a shingles vaccine. At HHCC, Shingrix is available now from age 50 years, and can also be given privately to those who have previously received a shingles vaccine but would like continued protection.

Booking your vaccines

• Covid 19, pneumonia, shingles and RSV vaccines are available to book now
• Flu vaccines will be available from mid September

Book your flu vaccine below or call us on 020 8861 1221 to book in for any of the other vaccines