Cold weather can be hard on our health, so it’s really important to take steps to look after ourselves and prepare for our winter wellness. There are lots of things you can do to keep well and the NHS is here to help you.
You will find advice and helpful tips in the green panels below and in our NHS services leaflet which you can download - (translations are available below).
One of the most important things you can do is have your winter vaccinations.
The winter COVID-19 vaccination programme has now ended. Details of the 2025 Spring booster can be found here.
When you receive your invite, book your vaccination appointments as soon as possible to give you the most protection.
NEW: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
For the first time this year from September there will also be the new rollout of the Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine. This will be for those over 75 and pregnant people over 28 weeks to help protect their new-born babies. Read more about this vaccine here.
More information about vaccinations, eligibility, your questions and other NHS services that can help you this winter,
can be found below:
Who can have a free flu and COVID-19 vaccine this winter?
Unless its states otherwise the groups listed below are eligable for both the flu and Covid-19 vaccinations this winter. They are reccomended to help keep you well this winter.
- Those aged 65 years and over
- Those aged 6 months to under 65 years in clinical risk groups (as defined by the Green Book)
- Pregnant people
- All children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2023 (flu vaccine only)
- Primary and secondary school aged children (from Reception to Year 11) (flu vaccine only)
- Those in long-stay residential care homes
- Carers in receipt of carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person (flu vaccine only)
- Close contacts of immunocompromised individuals
- Frontline health and social care workers
How to book
When you recieve your invite you can:
- Book a flu vaccination online here.
- Contact your doctors’ (GP) surgery, or local pharmacy if you are aged 18 years or over.#
- Patients who are housebound can request a home visit if the GP is unable to help.
- Email: nhsnwl.immunisations@nhs.net
- Contact number: 07776 548 910
- View the full list of clinics in north west London offering vaccinations from 3 October.
Need more information?
Visit our flu and COVID-19 pages
Translated information on the winter vaccinations.
- English leaflet
- Arabic
- Farsi
- French
- Gujarati
- Polish
- Portuguese
- Punjabi
- Romanian
- Somali
- Spanish
- Swahili
- Tamil
- Urdu
Frequently asked questions
Vaccine FAQs
It’s important that you have the right information about the flu and Covid-19 vaccines.
I have had the vaccines before, why do I need another one?
Both of these vaccinations form a regular part (annual) part of keeping well over winter. If you are invited to have them, it is important to top up your protection (even if you have had a vaccine before), as immunity fades over time and the viruses change each year.
Can I have the flu and Covid-19 vaccines at the same time?
Yes. If you are eligible for both and offered them at the same time, it is completely safe to do so.
I’ve heard the vaccinations hurt and can make you feel unwell
You may feel a small scratch when you have the vaccination and some people have mild aches or flu like symptoms afterwards. Taking paracetamol ahead of your vaccinations and in the hours after (as prescribed on the packet) will help improve these mild symptoms. Any symptoms from the vaccinations will not be as bad as catching flu or Covid-19.
Will the flu jab give me flu?
No. The flu jab cannot give you the flu - it is an inactivated vaccine. This
means it does not contain any of the live flu virus.
Do the vaccinations contain pork?
No - The flu and Covid-19 jabs do not contain any pork ingredients or gelatine.
Only the flu nasal spray for children includes porcine gelatine. The British Fatwa
council has permitted the use of the nasal spray in children and there is also an alternative vaccine available for children which does not include porcine gelatine.
How do these vaccinations benefit me?
Flu and Covid-19 can be very serious, causing breathing difficulties that can need hospital care. Getting your vaccines will help protect you and keep you well.
I’m pregnant, will the vaccinations harm me or my baby?
No, having the flu and covid-19 vaccines will help protect you and your baby.
They are safe to have at any stage of pregnancy and recommended.
How do I get my vaccinations?
You will be contacted by the NHS if you are eligible for a vaccination. You can use the NHS App, speak to your local pharmacy or contact your GP practice to book. More information is available at nhs.uk
Will the flu jab protect me from Covid-19?
No - Flu and Covid-19 are different viruses, requiring different vaccines to protect you from them.
Can you tell me more about the vaccine for children?
Please also visit our flu page where there is a section dedicated children's information on flu
Flu can be very serious in young children. The nasal spray flu vaccine is free on the NHS for:
If your child is aged between 6 months and 2 years and has a long-term health condition that makes them at higher risk from flu, they'll be offered a flu vaccine injection instead of the nasal spray.
This is because the nasal spray is not licensed for children under 2 years.
The nasal spray vaccine offers the best protection for children aged 2 to 17 years. They will be offered the flu vaccine injection if the nasal spray vaccine is not suitable for them.
More information on the vaccine for children can be found here: Child flu vaccine - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
- You can contact your GP practice
- Find your nearest pharmacy offering the vaccine at www.nhs.uk/flu-pharmacy
- If you can’t get online, phone 119 for help arranging your vaccinations. Interpreters will be available on request
- If you usually get your care at home, please contact your GP practice to arrange a home visit with a local NHS service.
- If you are housebound or are not able to travel to a vaccination centre, your local NHS services will be in touch to make arrangements.
- If you have difficulties communicating or hearing, or are a British Sign Language (BSL) user you can go online at NHS.UK, use textphone 18001 119 or the NHS BSL interpreter service.
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Flu myths busted - Ensuring you have the right information about the flu vaccination is important, there are some common myths, you will find these along with accurate NHS advice.
Local pharmacists are there to help with minor health concerns
Local pharmacists are qualified healthcare professionals who can help with minor health concerns and illnesses, some vaccinations, as well as helping you with your medications.
They can see you face-to-face and provide confidential help on the same day, with no appointment needed.
For minor health concerns including: coughs, colds, upset stomach, skin or eye
infections, visit your high street pharmacy. This is a quick and convenient way to get medical advice.
Listen to one of our pharmacists expalining how they can help you in this video.
Self-care helps you to stay as healthy and as independent as you can
On a day-to day basis, it's about making small lifestyle changes that can have a big effect on your wellbeing.
Self-care can be as simple as calling a friend for a chat, doing a bit of exercise or joining a lunch club. It is also about managing any conditions you have in a way that puts you in control and improves your quality of life.
Some simple things you can do:
Mental wellness
Take a look at our five areas of well-being to get you started: Connect, Be Active, Give, Take Notice, Learn. You can also find out more more about improving your mental wellbeing on NHS.UK
Stay connected
It is really important for your mental and physical health to keep in touch with friends and family over the winter. If you are on your own - there are lots of organisations that can link you up with other people and support services. Please visit:
www.hubofhope.co.uk
www.wellbeingwestlondon.org.uk
Be prepared
Even a minor illness and ailments such as colds, headaches and diarrhoea can disrupt your life. Be prepared for most common ailments by keeping a well-stocked medicine cabinet at home.
Medications for these ailments can be bought at your local pharmacy, where you can also get advice.
Do make sure you always read the label before taking any medication.
NHS Health checks and screening
The NHS health check is your chance to get your free midlife MOT. For adults in England aged 40-74 without a pre-existing condition, it checks your circulatory and vascular health and what your risk of getting a disabling vascular disease is. This guide explains what happens at the check, when and how you get one, and how to lower your risk.
You will also be invited for regular cancer screening. Make sure you take an appoinmnt for screening when invited.
There are services available to support with mental health and crisis
Talking therapies
The NHS provides a range of talking therapies for people who feel anxious and worried or down and depressed. If you need help you can refer yourself, you don’t need to go to your GP first
Visit: www.nhsTalk2us.org
If you need help for a mental health crisis or emergency
you can get immediate help on our freephone lines from our trained mental health advisers and clinicians all day every day.
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For residents in: |
Freephone helpline |
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Ealing, Hounslow, Hammersmith and Fulham |
0800 328 4444 |
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Brent, Harrow, Hillingdon, Kensington & (Central and North West London Foundation NHS Trust) |
0800 0234 650 |
Winter wellness support from hospitals in NW London
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL) and West London NHS Trust have singposted a number of mental health services, either provided by the hospitals or by NHS-approved partners. These services are designed to help you look after your mental health and wellbeing this winter.
Your GP can help you in-person, online, or over the phone
If you need help registering with a GP more information is available here.
If you need to speak to a GP or doctor, it is best to contact your usual practice as they will have your medical records to hand and can provide help based on this.
If you need prescription medication, your GP practice can arrange for it to be collected at a pharmacy that is convenient for you.
- Your GP practice can help you over the phone, online and in-person.
- To book an appointment you can use the online form on the practice website (PATCHS), use the NHS App, phone or walk-in to reception.
- A video on how to use PATCHS to contat your GP is available here
Phone appointments
Our GP practices offer phone appointments.
We want to reassure patients that our GPs can help many people over the phone without the need to come into the surgery, and if you do need to be seen face-to-face, you will be booked in for an appointment
Over the phone your GP can:
- assess you
- provide help & advice
- organise tests & prescriptions
- make a referral
- book you in to be seen face-to-face, if they need to see you.
GP appointments are available at evenings and weekends
Call your GP practice to book and get details of local appointments or call NHS 111.
More information on GP services at evenings and weekends can be found here.
Online consultations
If you need to speak to a GP or nurse, get a sick note or find out test results, don’t forget you can use the online consultation form on your GP practice's website. The secure form will be responded to quickly and may save you a phonecall to the practice.
When you think you need A&E, think NHS 111 first
Get the right advice for an urgent problem
NHS 111 is a website and phoneline available all day everyday to help if you have an urgent medical problem.
Doctors, nurses, paramedics and fully trained advisors are available to ensure you receive the right care. They can:
- Find out what local service can help you
- Connect you to a nurse, emergency dentist, pharmacist or GP
- Get you a face-to-face appointment if you need one
- Give you an arrival time if you need to go to A&E
- Tell you how to get any medicine you may need
- Give self-care advice
You can contact NHS 111 at 111.nhs.uk or by calling 111.
If you have a serious or life threatening medical emergency, call 999 or go to accident and emergency (A&E)
A&E departments are for seriously ill people with life-threatening conditions and will be very busy over winter. We encourage you to use alternative health services if it is not an emergency.
During the winter months there is an increased risk that your child could become unwell. Often, the illnesses are not serious and can be prevented or treated safely at home, or with support from a GP or pharmacist.
Helping your unwell child booklet
A team of experts at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust have developed a resource pack to help you care for your sick child. It will help you identify when an illness is minor and when it is serious. Click here to download the booklet.
Healthier Together website
Healthier Together, in collaboration with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, have produced information on a range of health concerns that you may be worried about as a parent or carer, including Covid-19, fever, and mental health. Visit the website.
