As we continue to recover from the pandemic, the aim is to offer the vaccination to people most at risk from serious disease and so most likely to benefit from vaccination. COVID-19 is more serious in older people and in people with certain underlying health conditions. As COVID-19 continues to circulate in Wales, it is very important to get yourself or your child protected (if eligible), to reduce the risk of needing hospital treatment.
Wales is following Welsh Government policy on who is eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations. This policy is based on evidence about who is most at risk of serious illness and death from COVID-19.
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Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 can help reduce preventable death and serious illness. Protect yourself and your health and social care services.
People at highest risk of serious illness from COVID-19 infection will be offered a vaccination this autumn and winter. We recommend that you have your vaccination as soon as it is offered to you.
Like some other vaccines, levels of protection may begin to reduce over time. The seasonal dose will help protect you for longer.
It will also help to reduce the risk of you needing to go to hospital due to COVID-19 infection.
If you are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination, you will be invited for your vaccine during autumn/winter 2024. The appointment should ideally be around six months (and not before three months) after your last dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The NHS will contact you to let you know when and where to have the vaccine. It’s important to attend the appointment when invited.
If you can’t attend, please cancel it and make a new appointment as soon as possible.
For more details, visit www.gov.wales/get-your-covid-19-vaccination (external site).
COVID-19 is more likely to be serious for older adults and those with certain health conditions. Adults at higher risk of severe COVID-19 will be offered a vaccination this autumn. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine helps to reduce the risk of serious illness or death from COVID-19.
Adults in the following groups will be eligible for a single dose of a COVID-19 vaccine during the autumn 2024 Winter Respiratory Vaccination Programme:
Residents in a care home for older adults
Adults aged 65 years and over
Adults aged 18 to 64 years with a long-term health condition that puts them at risk
Frontline health and social care workers
Staff working in care homes for older adults
Unpaid carers
If you are a frontline health or social care worker, work in a care home for older adults, or are an unpaid carer, please contact your local health board to find out how to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
You will be offered the most suitable vaccine for your age and condition.
Make sure you don’t delay getting your flu or COVID-19 vaccine if you’re advised to.
If you are in a clinical risk group, it means you have a long-term health condition that puts you at higher risk of severe COVID-19 infection. This includes conditions such as:
chest problems or lung conditions, including poorly controlled asthma;
serious heart problems, or heart problems combined with other medical conditions;
disease of the kidney, liver or digestive system;
certain neurological conditions or disabilities (for example epilepsy, cerebral palsy or Down’s syndrome) and severe learning disabilities;
endocrine disorders (such as diabetes or Addison’s disease);
a weakened immune system due to disease or treatment (for example, high dose steroids, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or organ transplant);
spleen problems, such as sickle cell disease, or if the spleen has been removed;
serious genetic conditions;
other serious medical conditions as advised by your doctor or specialist; and
pregnancy (at any stage).
For more information, go to gov.wales/get-your-covid-19-vaccination (external site).
Children and young people aged six months to 17 years who have a health condition that puts them at greater risk from COVID-19 are advised to have the COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccination reduces the chance of becoming seriously ill or dying from COVID-19. Getting vaccinated is a safe and effective way to protect your child against serious illness and being admitted to hospital.
COVID-19 can affect anyone. For most children, COVID-19 is a mild illness that rarely leads to complications. Some children are at greater risk, including those living with conditions such as:
chest problems, certain lung conditions including poorly controlled asthma;
serious heart problems, or heart problems with other medical conditions;
disease of the kidney, liver or digestive system;
certain neurological conditions or disabilities (for example epilepsy, cerebral palsy or Down’s syndrome) and severe learning disabilities;
endocrine disorders (such as diabetes or Addison’s disease);
a weakened immune system due to disease or treatment (for example, high dose steroids, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or organ transplant);
a problem with their spleen, for example sickle cell disease, or if they have had their spleen removed;
serious genetic problems;
other serious medical conditions as advised by the doctor or specialist; and
people who are pregnant (at any stage of pregnancy).
People aged 16 and over who are carers may also choose to get the vaccination this season.
For more information, go to gov.wales/get-your-covid-19-vaccination (external site).
All medicines and vaccines in the UK are closely monitored by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). They have approved the vaccines for use in children and young people, as they are safe and effective.
For more information on the COVID-19 vaccines given to children and young people, including their contents and possible side effects, visit medicines.org.uk/emc (external site). You will need to enter the words ‘COVID vaccine’ in the search box. You can also see the patient leaflet online.
People aged six months and older who are or become severely immunosuppressed (have a very weakened immune system because of a health condition or medical treatment) may not respond well to the COVID-19 vaccine.
An additional dose of vaccine should be considered.
If you have not received any previous COVID-19 vaccine or have recently become severely immunosuppressed then you should be considered for your first dose of vaccine, regardless of the time of year.
If you have previously received a COVID-19 vaccination and have become severely immunosuppressed then you should be considered for an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccination, three months after your last dose, regardless of the time of year.
The additional dose aims to increase your levels of protection until the next seasonal campaign. Severely immunosuppressed people may be eligible for further seasonal boosters in line with JCVI advice.
For more information, go to:
COVID-19: the green book, chapter 14a - GOV.UK (external site)
Covid-19 vaccination programme - GOV.WALES (external site)
Flu vaccine and COVID-19 Autumn Vaccine - Public Health Wales