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Covid-19 Autumn booster 2025: What you need to know
Covid-19 continues to make some people seriously ill. Between November 2024 and January 2025, around 13,000 people were admitted to hospital with the virus.
The NHS offers a free Covid-19 vaccine for people most at risk of severe illness. This is known as the Autumn booster. In 2025, it is being offered to fewer groups than in 2024.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reports that people who had last autumn’s booster were 43% less likely to be admitted to hospital with Covid-19 two weeks after vaccination, compared to those who were not vaccinated.
Who can get a Covid booster in Autumn 2025
You are eligible for the booster if you are:
- 75 years or older
- A resident in a care home for older adults
- Immunosuppressed, aged 6 months or older
Eligibility criteria is the same in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
You can get the booster even if you’ve never been vaccinated before.
You can check if you meet the criteria for being immunosuppressed on the NHS website.
Care home staff are no longer eligible for the Covid booster vaccine.
When and how to get the vaccine
If you are eligible for the autumn vaccine, you should have received your invite to book your appointment.
For care home residents, this will generally be arranged through the care home.
An NHS vaccination team will visit the care home to administer the vaccine. Residents and their families do not need to book an appointment.
Supporting someone with dementia to have the vaccine
Although care home residents are placed as a high priority for the autumn booster, encouraging a loved one with dementia to have the vaccine can be a challenge. They may be confused about why they need it, or have behaviours that make administering a vaccination difficult.
In spite of these challenges, supporting your loved one to have the vaccine is really important to give them the best defence against Covid during the autumn and winter season.
Which vaccine will you get?
Eligible people will receive a vaccine from Pfizer or Moderna.
These updated vaccines provide better protection against Omicron variants.
All versions of the Covid vaccine help reduce the risk of serious illness, so it is recommended to take up the offer if eligible.
Possible side effects
Common side effects include:
- Pain or tenderness in the arm where you had the injection
- Fatigue
- Headache
- General aches or mild flu-like symptoms
These usually last less than a week. Paracetamol can help manage discomfort.
If your symptoms worsen or you are worried, call NHS 111.
Covid booster and Flu vaccine
If you are eligible for the flu jab, you may be able to get it at the same time as your Covid booster.
If you prefer, you can have them on different days.
Help and support
Who is eligible for a flu vaccine
Find a pharmacy that offers the NHS flu vaccine
