Coronavirus (COVID-19) and flu vaccinations
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It's strongly recommended you get vaccinated for flu and coronavirus (COVID-19). Both viruses can be serious - evidence shows that coronavirus vaccine protection fades, and the flu virus changes over time.
Don't let your protection fade. It's important to keep up to date with your vaccines. Getting another vaccine will top up your protection and help prevent you from getting seriously ill or dying.
Drop-in clinics
We are offering drop-in clinics for those eligible for vaccines during December 2025. No appointment needed but vaccinations are only available for eligible patients. All attendees will be screened for eligibility on arrival.
Just before you travel for a drop-in clinic, refresh this page and check this list as details may have changed due to weather conditions or other reasons.
See clinic locations. If there is not a drop-in clinic close enough to where you live, contact us in case there is other availability.
If you have received or made a later appointment at any vaccination clinic, you can still attend an earlier drop-in clinic. Just tell staff about your later appointment, which can be cancelled.
It’s not too late to get vaccinated
Flu hits hard, and for some, it hits harder. Last winter, Scotland experienced very high levels of flu, with more than 6,500 adults becoming so ill that they were admitted to hospital, and cases are already beginning to rise this year.
If you’re eligible for the flu vaccine you will have received a letter, email or text with appointment details or information on how to book one. If you’re offered the flu vaccine, you’ve got a reason to get it.
In addition to the flu vaccine, some people may also be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine this year. Eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine is based on advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). This guidance is reviewed every year so it’s important to check what vaccines you are eligible for this year.
Even if your health condition is well managed, you're still at increased risk of severe illness from flu and COVID-19.
Who can get the COVID-19 vaccine?
You’ll be offered the COVID-19 vaccine during winter 2025-26 if you:
- are aged 75 years or over, OR:
- live in a care home for older adults
- are aged 6 months or over and have a weakened immune system
Who can get the flu vaccine?
You’ll be offered the flu vaccine during winter 2025-26 if you’re:
- aged 65 and over, OR:
- aged 18 to 64 with an eligible health condition
- pregnant
- living in a long-stay residential care home or other long-stay care facility
- working in a care home for older adults
- living with someone who has a weakened immune system
- an unpaid or young carer
- a frontline health or social care worker
- a non-frontline NHS worker
- a poultry worker or bird handler
- an asylum seeker living in a home office hotel or B&B accommodation
- experiencing homelessness or substance misuse
- living in a Scottish prison
Read more flu vaccine information from NHS inform.
Important: When will you be invited?
All those eligible will be invited for vaccination. NHS Scotland will contact you with more information if you’re eligible for the COVID-19 and/or flu vaccines.
Please wait to be contacted about your vaccination. Do not try to make an appointment until you’ve been invited by NHS Scotland. If you believe you are eligible and have not been contacted about vaccination, please contact us.
If you previously chose to be contacted digitally, you’ll receive a text or email with an appointment or prompt. Otherwise, you’ll receive a letter. The letter invites will arrive in the post in white envelopes with clear NHS Scotland branding.
You may receive your invitation at a different time than previous years. You should attend the appointment you’ve been given, or rearrange your appointment online.
Are you newly eligible?
Health records are regularly refreshed and reviewed during winter programmes. Your health record may have recently changed, if you have developed a condition or are now receiving treatment that weakens your immune system. You may now meet the criteria for COVID-19 vaccination and receive an invitation letter. If you already have an appointment for flu scheduled, you do not need to book a further appointment and can receive your COVID-19 vaccination at your scheduled appointment.
Community vaccination clinic locations
You do not need to book at your closest venue if you don't want to wait. If you're able to travel, you can make a vaccination clinic booking at any available venue outside your local area, where capacity allows.
Important: Online service for vaccination appointments
NHS Scotland offers an online booking portal to:
- manage your upcoming vaccination appointments
- view your vaccination history
- maintain your preferred contact details - if you select to receive correspondence about your vaccination appointments by email or SMS text in future, then you'll no longer receive letters with this information
To manage a clinic booking at one of these locations, log in to the booking portal using your own account details.
Daytime appointments only (usually between 9am and 4pm) - evening appointments are not available. Appointments on small islands in Argyll and Bute should be booked directly with the local GP practice instead of using the portal.
Login to the portal or registerReschedule your vaccine appointment if you feel very unwell - for example if you have a fever, vomiting or diarrhoea. You should not attend an appointment if you think you might be infectious to others.
If you hold Power of Attorney (POA) for an adult without capacity please bring the POA documentation to vaccination appointments. Without this we may not be able to vaccinate due to lack of valid consent.
Find out how to rearrange or opt-out of your vaccination appointment at NHS inform, including a national helpline number.
Important: Help by phone or email
Use these contacts for questions about vaccination clinics, including if you:
- have been asked to book an appointment
- need to rearrange an appointment
- need to cancel an appointment (please let us know so we can offer a place to someone else)
When leaving a message by phone or email, please include your name and address (including postcode). One of the team will get back to you as soon as possible. Leave one message only as this will help the team to get back to everyone quickly.
Call or email our local Service Delivery Centre
phone 0800 032 0339
Available:
- Monday: 9:15am to 5:00pm
- Tuesday: 9:00am to 5:00pm
- Wednesday: 9:30am to 5:00pm
- Thursday: 9:00am to 5:00pm
- Friday: 9:00am to 5:00pm
You can leave a voicemail outside these hours with details.
Important: National Vaccination Helpline
The national helpline can also help with flu and COVID appointments.
Call the National Vaccination Helpline
phone 0800 030 8013
Available:
- Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 6:00pm
- Saturday, 9:00am to 1:00pm
Important: Winter vaccine information from NHS inform
- When and how can I get the vaccines?
- Who can get the vaccines?
- Help with booking
Important: Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine information from NHS inform
- About coronavirus (COVID-19)
- Possible side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine
- Why should I get the COVID-19 vaccine?
- How is the COVID-19 vaccine given?
- Vaccine safety
- How does the COVID-19 vaccine work?
- The vaccine you’ll be offered
- Are there any reasons I shouldn’t get the vaccine?
- Preparing for your appointment
- Information in other languages and formats
Important: Flu vaccine information from NHS inform
- About flu
- Why should I get the flu vaccine?
- How is the flu vaccine given?
- How does the flu vaccine work?
- Vaccine safety
- Who will be offered the flu vaccine
- Eligible health conditions
- Possible side effects of the flu vaccines
- Are there any reasons I should not get the vaccine?
- Information in other languages and formats