With Christmas just around the corner, NHS Greater Manchester is sharing 12 key facts about winter vaccinations, using a seasonal “12 Days of Christmas” format to shine a light on the impact vaccines have in protecting people across the city-region.
Vaccines remain our best defence against flu, COVID-19 and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), helping to keep people safe, prevent serious illness, and reduce hospital admissions, supporting the NHS during its busiest time of year. This festive season, people who are eligible are encouraged to get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.
On the first day of winter vaccines, NHS Greater Manchester gave to me…
- One flu vaccine protecting against three strains of flu
Keeping flu at bay all winter long.
- RSV protection lasting a year
Helping pregnant women and older adults stay well.
- Immunity forming in 14 days
That’s all it takes after a flu jab for it to be fully effective.
- Just 30 seconds to get a jab
Since the RSV programme began in England, RSV-related hospital admissions among 75–79-year-olds have reduced by around 30%.
- 351 pharmacies offering COVID-19 vaccines
Making it easier for people to access vaccination clinics.
- 406 GP practices across Greater Manchester giving flu jabs
Supporting patients’ health throughout the year.
- 1,200 schools joined the winter vaccine drive
Helping children stay healthy and thrive.
- 40,000 visits to our winter webpages
Thousands checking out our vaccine top tips – helping everyone to stay informed this winter.
- 41,650 COVID-19 vaccines given in a single day
A record-breaking day: over 41,000 jabs in 24 hours (20 December 2021).
- 212,000 winter vaccines given to school-aged children
Supporting children’s wellbeing and learning in schools during 2024/25.
- Over 1.6 million people in Greater Manchester eligible for the flu vaccine this year
If you’re not sure if that includes you, visit our website to find out more: https://gmintegratedcare.org.uk/winter-vaccinations/
- Nearly 8.2 million COVID-19 jabs provided since 2020
Helping to reduce serious illness and hospital admission.
Winter vaccines
You can find information about winter vaccines, including eligibility and clinic locations on the winter vaccinations page.
The flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccinations delivered this winter are part of the wider vaccination programme. People are encouraged to check with their GP practice or on the NHS App to ensure they are up to date with all vaccinations they are eligible for.
Those eligible for the RSV vaccine include:
- Pregnant women over 28 weeks
- Anyone aged 75-79 years old until the day before their 80th birthday
Those eligible for a flu vaccine this year include:
- pregnant women
- all children aged 2 or 3 years on 31st August 2025
- primary school aged children (from Reception to Year 6)
- secondary school aged children (from Year 7 to Year 11)
- those aged 65 years and over
- people with certain long-term health conditions eg respiratory diseases and chronic kidney and liver disease
- residents in a care home
- carers in receipt of carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person
- close contacts of immunocompromised individuals
- frontline workers in a social care setting without an employer-led occupational health scheme
Those eligible for COVID-19 vaccine this year include:
- residents in a care home for older adults
- those aged 75 years and over
- people aged 6 months to 74 years and have a weakened immune system because of a health condition or treatment
Find a walk-in winter vaccine clinic
