The H&SCW winter vaccine programme will begin on Monday 15 September 2025.
This year the winter vaccination offer for Health and Social Care Workers is different and many are eligible for a seasonal flu vaccination only.
Eligibility
Advice for winter 2025 from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), in tandem with policy decision makers at the Scottish Government, is that all healthcare workers and frontline social care workers should be offered a seasonal flu vaccination. This year a COVID-19 vaccine is not being recommended or offered to frontline H&SCWs, which is different from the last few years of the staff winter vaccine programme.
Why is it important to have a seasonal flu vaccine this year?
The flu vaccine is the best way to help protect yourself against flu. It reduces the risk of spreading flu to your family, patients and colleagues who could be at risk of catching the virus.
It is recommended you get vaccinated every year because the flu virus changes constantly and your immunity will not protect you from new types of flu. The injectable flu vaccine, used for adults, is not a live vaccine, so it cannot give you flu.
Getting the seasonal flu vaccine will support your health, safety and wellbeing over the winter period. This, in turn, will support staff to maintain services for patients.
Why are these vaccines so important?
The flu vaccine is the best way to help protect yourself against flu this year. It reduces the risk of spreading flu to your family, patients and colleagues who could be at risk of catching the virus.
Immunisation of health and social care staff aims to protect workers at high risk of exposure. If you don’t have face to face patient contact, and are not otherwise eligible.
Getting the vaccines you are eligible for will also support your health, safety and wellbeing over the winter period and help reduce the level of sickness absence. This, in turn, will support staff to maintain services for patients.