Image
Whether it is getting vaccinated, staying warm or avoiding seasonal scams there is lots of help available.
The seasonal NHS Covid and Flu programmes provide vital protection to eligible people and their families, keeping them from developing serious illnesses, and helping to minimise hospitalisations during the busy winter months.
Vaccinations are our best defence against Flu and Covid so please come forward to get your protection when invited.
Covid vaccinations
The free NHS Covid vaccine is available to everyone who:
- is aged 75 or over (including those who will be 75 by 31 January 2026)
- is aged 6 months to 74 years and has a weakened immune system because of a health condition or treatment
- lives in a care home for older adults.
You don’t need to wait for an invitation before booking an appointment.
The last date you will be able to get a Covid vaccine is 31 January 2026. Online booking will close on 30 January 2026.
Flu vaccinations
The free NHS adult’s flu vaccine is available to everyone who:
- is aged 65 or over (including those who will be 65 by 31 March 2026)
- has certain long-term health conditions
- is pregnant
- lives in a care home
- is the main carer for an older or disabled person, or receives a carer's allowance
- lives with someone who has a weakened immune system.
Frontline health and social care workers can also get a flu vaccine through their employer.
The last date you will be able to get your flu vaccine is 31 March 2026, but it's best to get vaccinated sooner to protect yourself during winter. Online booking will close on 30 March 2026.
Children are also being invited for the flu vaccine, to prevent them from getting seriously ill and ending up hospital. Vaccinating children also helps protect others who are at higher risk of getting seriously ill from flu.
The free NHS children’s flu vaccine is offered to:
- children aged two or three years on 31 August 2025 (born between 1 September 2021 and 31 August 2023)
- school-aged children (Reception to Year 11)
- children aged six months to 17 years with certain long-term health conditions.
- Most children who are eligible for a flu vaccine can have the nasal spray. Please look out for your child’s invitation via their childcare setting or school and make an appointment when invited.
Winter fuel payments
Pensioners are being warned to look out for Winter Fuel Payment text message scams following a surge in activity from opportunistic criminals ahead of next month's payments.
New data from HMRC shows reports of scam texts more than doubled in the last week of September when compared to the previous week.
These scams – which see fraudsters exploit pensioners by posing as government officials processing Winter Fuel Payment applications – had begun to drop off after a peak in June but are now increasing again ahead of payments being made next month.
Winter Fuel Payments are made automatically and the government will never ask for bank details by text.
Anyone who receives a text message inviting them to apply for a payment should not engage with it and instead forward it to 7726.
Welcoming places to stay warm
Community living rooms will re-open across North Somerset this winter.
For the past three winters, these community spaces have been set up in buildings, libraries, places of worship and sports centres.
They are welcoming places where people can meet others, access information about support, enjoy a hot drink and stay warm.
Find a map of locations and more information on our website.