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Check eligibility (or just walk in)
Bring proof of eligibility if you have it — a GP letter, blue badge, NHS appointment text, or your maternity notes. If you're not sure, we can usually look it up from your NHS record.
NHS Seasonal Vaccination Programme
Stay protected through every season.
Free NHS flu and COVID-19 jabs for the 2026/27 season — walk in, no appointment needed. We're 2 minutes from Borough station and 8 minutes from London Bridge, with both jabs available at the same visit.
- Free if eligibleCost (NHS)
- Same day / walk-inWait time
- Flu to 31 Mar · COVID to 31 Jan2026/27 season
What is the Seasonal Vaccination Service?
Each autumn, the NHS rolls out a coordinated programme of free jabs to protect people most at risk from respiratory infections that peak in colder months. Qrystal Pharmacy is an accredited NHS provider for both flu and COVID-19 vaccination — meaning eligible adults can walk in without a GP appointment and receive their jab from a registered pharmacist.
The 2026/27 programmes are running now. NHS COVID-19 vaccination runs from 1 October 2026 to 31 January 2027, and NHS flu vaccination until 31 March 2027. Late October and November is the best time to come in: protection takes around two weeks to build, and flu usually peaks in December and January.
The two jabs target different threats: flu vaccines are reformulated annually to match the strains the World Health Organization expects to circulate that winter, and COVID boosters top up the antibody response from prior doses or infection. They can usually be given at the same visit, in different arms — saving you a trip.
If you're not eligible for a free NHS jab but still want the protection, ask us about private flu vaccinations. The clinical service is identical; only the funding differs.
Who can get a free NHS seasonal jab?
Eligibility is set each year on the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), and flu and COVID now cover different groups. For 2026/27:
- Flu: adults aged 65 and over (including those turning 65 by 31 March 2027)
- Flu: adults aged 18–64 with an eligible long-term condition, such as asthma, COPD, diabetes, or heart, kidney or liver disease
- Flu: pregnant patients, at any stage of pregnancy
- Flu: care home residents, main carers, and people who live with someone with a weakened immune system
- Flu: frontline social-care workers who can't get it through their employer
- COVID-19: adults aged 75 and over (including those turning 75 by 31 January 2027)
- COVID-19: people with a weakened immune system, and residents of care homes for older adults
You're not eligible if:
- Patients outside JCVI eligibility groups — we offer private flu jabs instead. Ask us for current pricing.
- Anyone with a confirmed allergy to a vaccine ingredient (we'll review with you and signpost to a hospital-based clinic if needed)
How a seasonal vaccination visit works
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Pre-jab consultation
Our pharmacist confirms eligibility, reviews allergies and current medicines, and answers any concerns. Takes 5 minutes in a private consultation room.
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The jab itself
A quick injection in the upper arm. We can give flu and COVID at the same visit (one in each arm). Most patients are in and out in under 10 minutes.
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Post-jab observation
We ask you to stay in the pharmacy for 5 minutes after your jab so we can act on the rare immediate reaction. With your consent the record goes straight to your GP and onto your NHS record.
What's included in the service
- Eligibility check against NHS criteria
- Pre-jab consultation in a private room
- Free NHS flu vaccine (if eligible)
- Free NHS COVID-19 booster (if eligible)
- Optional same-visit administration of both jabs
- Post-jab observation and side-effect advice
- Electronic record sent to your GP and NHS record
Seasonal vaccinations — frequently asked questions
Do I need an appointment?
No — walk-ins are welcome during opening hours (Monday to Friday 9:00–18:30, Saturday 9:00–14:00). We're 2 minutes from Borough station and 8 from London Bridge. You can also pre-book a slot to skip any wait during peak weeks in October and November.
Can I have flu and COVID at the same time?
Yes. Co-administration is standard NHS practice — one jab in each arm, in a single visit.
What if I'm not eligible for the free NHS jab?
We offer private flu vaccinations year-round for anyone aged 18+. The clinical service is the same — please ask the pharmacist for current pricing.
How long does the protection last?
Flu vaccines protect for the season they're designed for (roughly 6 months). COVID boosters typically maintain heightened protection for around 6 months too — JCVI publishes refreshed guidance each spring and autumn.
What side effects should I expect?
Most common: a sore arm, mild tiredness, low-grade fever for 24–48 hours. Severe reactions are very rare. We'll review red-flag symptoms with you before you leave.
Can children get vaccinated here?
Our NHS seasonal vaccination service is for adults. Children's NHS flu vaccines are usually given as a nasal spray — at the GP practice for 2- and 3-year-olds, and through the school programme for school-aged children. Ring us if you're unsure where your child should go.
Vaccinations available in this service
Flu Vaccination
Annual NHS flu jab matched to this season's strains — for eligible adults, children, and at-risk groups.
Learn moreCOVID-19 Vaccination
Autumn and spring NHS COVID boosters for eligible at-risk groups — quick walk-in clinics from a registered pharmacist.
Learn moreGet your seasonal jab this week
Walk in — no appointment needed — at 301 Borough High Street, 2 minutes from Borough station. Free NHS flu and COVID jabs for eligible adults, both at the same visit.