NHS Scotland’s winter vaccination programme helps protect people who are at greater risk of becoming seriously unwell from flu and COVID-19.
Winter flu and COVID-19 vaccinations will be offered from September 2026.
Eligibility for the flu and COVID-19 vaccines is different. You may be offered a flu vaccine, a COVID-19 vaccine, or both.
Please Do Not Contact the GP Practice to Book
If you are eligible for a winter vaccination, NHS Scotland will contact you.
You will receive a letter, email or text message with either:
- details of your vaccination appointment, or
- information about how to book an appointment.
Please wait to be contacted and DO NOT contact the GP practice to arrange your winter vaccination.
Vaccinations in Scotland are organised by local NHS immunisation teams and you may be invited to a vaccination location rather than your GP practice.
Read about getting your vaccinations on NHS Inform
Who Can Get a Winter Vaccine?
The people offered flu and COVID-19 vaccinations are not exactly the same.
You may be eligible for one vaccine or both.
For the latest information about eligibility, please visit NHS Inform:
Check winter vaccine eligibility on NHS Inform
Book Your Winter Vaccination Online
If NHS Scotland has contacted you and asked you to book your vaccination, you can use the NHS Scotland online booking service.
You will need your unique username and password. Your username will be included in the letter, email or text message you receive from NHS Scotland.
Go to the NHS Scotland vaccination booking portal
If you have forgotten your username or password, you can recover these through the booking portal.
Need Help Booking?
The easiest way to book your appointment is online.
If you cannot book online, you can contact the National Vaccination Helpline on 0800 030 8013.
The helpline is open:
- Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm
- Saturday, 9am to 1pm
The helpline has access to the same appointments as the online booking portal.
Flu Vaccination
Flu can make you seriously unwell. Some people are at greater risk of complications from flu and are offered a free NHS flu vaccination.
The flu vaccine is offered every year because flu viruses can change and protection from previous vaccination reduces over time.
Find out about the flu vaccine on NHS Inform
COVID-19 Vaccination
The winter COVID-19 vaccine is offered to people who are at higher risk of becoming seriously unwell from COVID-19.
NHS Scotland will contact you if you are eligible.
Please wait to be contacted before trying to arrange your vaccination.
Find out about the COVID-19 vaccine on NHS Inform
Flu Vaccination for Children
NHS Scotland also offers free flu vaccination to eligible children and young people.
For winter 2026/27, this includes:
- children aged 6 months to 2 years with an eligible health condition
- children aged 2 to 5 years who are not yet at school and who are aged 2 or over on 1 September 2026
- children and young people in primary and secondary school.
Most eligible children are offered the flu vaccine as a nasal spray. An injectable vaccine is available for children who cannot have the nasal spray.
Children at primary and secondary school will normally be offered their flu vaccination at school.
Parents and carers of eligible younger children will receive information from NHS Scotland about their child’s vaccination.
Read about the child flu vaccine on NHS Inform
Find Out More
For the latest information about winter vaccinations, eligibility and appointments, please use the NHS Inform website.
If you have been invited to book your vaccination:
Please do not contact the GP practice to book your winter vaccination.