Why vaccination matters
- Flu: usually unpleasant, but it can sometimes be severe or life-threatening, especially for older adults and people with health conditions.
- Pneumonia: a serious lung infection that can also lead to complications such as sepsis (blood poisoning).
- COVID-19, RSV and shingles: other infections that can cause significant illness, but can be prevented or made less severe with vaccination.
Vaccination remains the most effective way to reduce your risk of infection or, if you do catch it, to lessen the severity of illness.
Flu vaccination 2026 to 2027
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has confirmed that the influenza B/Yamagata strain is still not circulating. B/Yamagata has not been detected as naturally circulating since 2020, so it is no longer considered necessary to include it in flu vaccines.
As a result, flu vaccines for the 2026-27 season will continue to protect against three strains of influenza, not four: the two influenza A strains and one influenza B strain currently expected to circulate. The change from a quadrivalent to a trivalent vaccine does not mean the vaccine offers less protection; it reflects the strains that are circulating and expected to pose a risk during the flu season.
At HHCC, we believe everyone can benefit from flu vaccination, and we will be offering it to all adults and children from 6 months of age. We have secured supplies of vaccines to cover all age groups.
For the 2026-27 season, we will be providing:
- Children aged 6 months to 18 years: cell-based flu vaccine
- Adults aged 18 to 64 years: cell-based flu vaccine
- Adults aged 50 to 64 years: cell-based or adjuvanted flu vaccine
- Adults aged 65 years and over: adjuvanted or cell-based flu vaccine
The adjuvanted flu vaccine contains an additional ingredient that helps stimulate the immune system. This can make it particularly beneficial for older adults, whose immune response to vaccination may be weaker.
Flu vaccination for children
Children are routinely offered the nasal spray flu vaccine (LAIV) free on the NHS from the age of 2 years. Unfortunately, we are unable to source the nasal spray vaccine. However, we can offer a suitable injectable flu vaccine to children from 6 months of age who are not eligible for, or cannot receive, the nasal spray.
NHS flu vaccination programme
The NHS continues to offer flu vaccination free of charge to those aged 65 years and over, children, pregnant women and people with certain long-term health conditions.
As in previous flu seasons, healthy adults aged 50 to 64 years are not included in the NHS flu vaccination programme. At HHCC, flu vaccination is available privately for this age group and for anyone who wishes to be protected against flu.
When will flu vaccinations be available?
Flu vaccinations are available at HHCC now for adults and children from 6 months of age.
Current advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which advises the UK Government on vaccination, recommends vaccination from September for children and pregnant women, with most adults advised to have their flu vaccination from 1 October. This is because protection can reduce over time, and later vaccination helps maintain protection during the period when flu is most likely to circulate.
At HHCC, as a private provider, we are making flu vaccination available from now to those who wish to be vaccinated earlier. For those for whom vaccination from 1 October is generally recommended, we will be happy to advise on the most appropriate timing based on individual circumstances.
We will be pleased to help you choose the most appropriate flu vaccine for your age and circumstances.
New pneumonia (PCV20) vaccine
We are pleased to offer the new PCV20 pneumonia vaccine, which protects against 20 strains of the pneumococcal bacteria that can cause pneumonia, meningitis and sepsis. It replaces the older PPV23 vaccine, is given as a single injection, and is expected to give longer-lasting protection.
On the NHS, PCV20 has now replaced the older vaccine and is mainly for people aged 65 years and over or those in high-risk groups. It is still not being offered on the NHS to people who have already had a pneumonia vaccine through an NHS provider.
At HHCC, PCV20 is available now for anyone aged 2 years and over, including those who had PPV23 more than one year ago and would like their protection to be as strong as possible.
COVID-19 booster
We continue to offer COVID-19 vaccination to our patients aged 12 years and over. This season we will be offering Comirnaty XFG, the most up-to-date COVID-19 vaccine.
COVID-19 vaccination can be given safely at the same time as the flu vaccine, so you do not need to have these vaccinations separately.
You should be well on the day of vaccination, and there should normally be a minimum interval of 3 months since your previous COVID-19 vaccine.
The NHS autumn 2026 COVID-19 vaccination programme is being offered to people at increased risk of serious illness from COVID-19, including adults aged 75 years and over, residents of care homes for older adults, and people aged 6 months and over who are immunosuppressed. At HHCC, we can provide COVID-19 vaccination privately to all patients aged 12 years and over, including those who are not eligible for the NHS programme.
RSV vaccination
RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is a common winter virus that often feels like a heavy cold. For some people, especially older adults or those with weakened immune systems, it can progress to pneumonia or bronchiolitis. The vaccine is given as a single injection and offers long-term protection, but it should not be given on the same day as the flu vaccine. We recommend leaving at least 7 days between them.
RSV vaccination has only recently been introduced on the NHS and is being rolled out to some older adults. At HHCC, we are offering RSV vaccination now to all adults aged 60 years and over.
Shingles vaccination
Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus and can result in a painful rash. Some people have long-term nerve pain afterwards, known as post-herpetic neuralgia. We use the Shingrix vaccine, which is more than 90% effective and is given as a course of two doses at least 8 weeks apart.
On the NHS, shingles vaccination is only available to certain age groups, mainly those aged 65 years and those between 70 and 80 years. It is not offered again to people who have already had a shingles vaccine. At HHCC, we recommend Shingrix from age 50 years, and it is available now to anyone who wishes to be protected, including those who have had a shingles vaccine before.
Booking your vaccines
Flu, COVID-19, pneumonia, shingles and RSV vaccines are all available to book now.
Book your flu vaccine online below. For COVID-19, pneumonia, shingles or RSV vaccines, or if you would like to speak to the team, please call us on 020 8861 1221.
Calendar not showing? Open the booking page in a new tab or call 020 8861 1221.
For more on this season’s vaccines, see our Flu & Winter Vaccinations page.
Stay safe and well this winter.
The HHCC Team