Return to Symptoms

Last Updated:

Next Review Date:

Find your local services

Search for a service near you by entering your postcode below.

Please input your postcode in the following format: A12 1BC

Search

Winter vaccines

Information about vaccines to help protect you from serious illness

How do I get my vaccines?

If you haven’t already had the vaccines you’re eligible for, it’s not too late. It’s strongly recommended you get vaccinated against flu and coronavirus (COVID-19) if you’re eligible this winter. This includes frontline healthcare and social care workers, pregnant women and those with eligible health conditions.

You can get your winter vaccines now by:

  • booking an appointment online
  • phoning the national vaccination helpline on 0800 030 8013
  • visiting a drop-in clinic – you can visit a drop-in clinic in your local area, or attend one that’s convenient for you either where you work or visit regularly

You can get the vaccines you’re eligible for until 31 March 2024.

Following advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), NHS Scotland is working to finalise plans for the roll out of Scotland’s spring coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination programme.

Eligibility

It’s strongly recommended you get vaccinated against flu and coronavirus (COVID-19) if you’re eligible this winter. This includes frontline healthcare and social care workers, pregnant women and those with eligible health conditions.

List of groups who are eligible

Groups eligible for flu and coronavirus vaccination are:

  • residents and staff in care homes for older adults
  • people aged 65 and over
  • people aged 6 months and over with a condition that places them at higher risk
  • pregnant women
  • frontline healthcare workers (including independent contractors and support staff who are patient facing in GP, dental, optometry and community pharmacy)
  • frontline social care workers
  • carers (including unpaid and young carers aged 16 and over)
  • people aged 12 or over who live with someone with a weakened immune system

Groups eligible for flu vaccination are:

  • children aged 6 months to 2 years at higher risk of flu
  • children aged 2 to 5 (and not yet in school) on 1 September 2023
  • all primary school pupils
  • all secondary school pupils
  • people aged 18 to 64 with an eligible condition
  • people aged 50 and over
  • nursery, primary and secondary school teachers and pupil-facing support staff
  • prison population, prison officers and support staff who deliver direct front-facing detention services
  • poultry workers
  • non-frontline NHS healthcare workers (including all independent contractors and support staff in GP, dental, optometry and community pharmacy)

If you’re ill on the day

You no longer need to wait for a specific amount of time after confirmed coronavirus infection to have your vaccine. However, if you’re unwell, wait until you’ve recovered to have your vaccine. You should not attend an appointment if you have a fever or think you might be infectious to others.

Help with booking

What if I’ve never logged in before?

Even if you have never logged in before, you can find your username on your appointment letter or by using the ‘Get your username’ option.

You can then set up a password by selecting the new user option to register.

How do I rearrange my appointment?
What if I can’t find a suitable appointment?

If you can’t find a suitable appointment, please keep checking as new ones are added regularly.

Can I book by phone instead?

The easiest way to book an appointment is online. It takes just a few minutes. Please be aware the helpline only has access to the same appointments on the portal. However, you can phone the national vaccination helpline on 0800 030 8013 to book your appointment.

How do I recover my username and password?

If you’ve lost or forgotten your username, you can recover it by selecting the ‘Get your username’ option.

If you’ve lost or forgotten your password, you can recover it by selecting the ‘Forgotten your password’ option.

Other vaccines

Throughout the year, NHS Scotland offers a range of other vaccinations to people at different stages in their life. Find out about these vaccines, and the diseases they protect against, and when they’ll be offered.