Winter vaccines

Information about flu and coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines to help protect you this winter

Don't let your protection fade. Find out what you're eligible for and how to arrange your vaccination appointment.

Check which vaccines you'll be offered

Answer a few questions in our self-help guide to find out if you're eligible for flu and coronavirus vaccines. Eligibility is based on age, health condition and/or job.

Self-help guide

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Online booking portal

You can log in to book using your unique username and password. This is the same as you had for your previous doses of the coronavirus vaccine.

Get help with booking

You can rearrange your appointment if the time or day doesn't suit you.

Some local health boards are offering drop-in clinics. Check your local health board website or social media to find out what is available in your area.

If you're an eligible health or social care worker, you can drop in at any winter vaccine clinic to get vaccinated. You don't need an appointment.

NHS Orkney and NHS Shetland

NHS Orkney are following local arrangements for winter vaccinations. If you live in Orkney please do not use the online booking portal to book or rearrange. For more information and local arrangements visit the NHS Orkney website.

If you live in NHS Shetland you'll be contacted about your winter vaccination appointment. Please do not use the online booking portal to book or rearrange.

Where possible, the winter coronavirus vaccine will be given at the same time as the flu vaccine, if you're eligible for both. This is a safe and efficient way to give maximum protection over winter months.

The coronavirus vaccine should be given at least 12 weeks after your last dose. Only 1 dose of the flu vaccine is needed each winter.

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.

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 to rearrange your appointment

How to recover your 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.

Who will be offered the winter vaccines

NHS Scotland recommends you have both the flu and coronavirus vaccines this year if you're:

If you're an eligible health or social care worker, you can drop in at any winter vaccine clinic to get vaccinated. You don't need an appointment.

Flu vaccine

The flu vaccine is also recommended for:

Which frontline health and social care workers are eligible for the vaccines this winter?

NHS Scotland is vaccinating frontline health and social care workers to help protect them and the highest risk patients they come into contact with, in line with the Green Book. Frontline workers are the following and those who have a patient facing role where they have frequent face-to-face contact with patients. This includes:

  • non clinical ancillary staff who may have social contacts with patients but are not directly involved in patient care including receptionists, ward clerks, porters and cleaners
  • Allied Health Professionals and Allied Health Professional clinical support workers including Scottish Ambulance, podiatrists, physiotherapists, radiographers and audiologists
  • associated clinical support staff and independent contractors
  • chiropractors and osteopaths
  • coronavirus vaccinators and vaccination centre staff
  • dentists, dental nurses and dental hygienists
  • doctors
  • donor carers at the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (coronavirus vaccine only)
  • foot care specialists
  • frontline funeral operatives (coronavirus vaccine only)
  • Healthcare Improvement Scotland and Care Inspectorate Inspectors who are required to visit premises with vulnerable patients (coronavirus vaccine only)
  • healthcare students
  • hospital based laboratory staff
  • memory clinic staff providing care to clinically extremely vulnerable individuals or the elderly
  • MoD primary healthcare services frontline workers (deployed on Scottish bases)
  • NHS independent contractors
  • pharmacists and pharmacy technicians
  • registered nurses and midwives, including healthcare and midwifery support workers
  • Scottish Ambulance Service workers
  • Scottish Register of Language Professionals with the Deaf Community who work regularly in settings with elderly or clinically extremely vulnerable individuals (coronavirus vaccine only)
  • social care workers and personal care assistants
  • staff at schools for children with additional support needs
  • staff at symptomatic testing sites
  • volunteers assisting clinically extremely vulnerable individuals, for example transport to and from vaccination centres (coronavirus vaccine only)

The parents of neonatal babies are also eligible for a coronavirus vaccine.

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.