The NHS autumn 2026 COVID-19 vaccine is available now, and you can walk in for it at Qrystal Pharmacy on Borough High Street, two minutes from Borough station. But the most common question we're hearing this autumn isn't "where?" It's "am I still eligible?"
Eligibility has narrowed over the last couple of years, and plenty of people who had a COVID vaccine every autumn are no longer invited. This guide explains who qualifies in 2026, what counts as a weakened immune system, the deadline, and how to get your jab near London Bridge.
Who's eligible this autumn
For the autumn 2026 programme in England, the free NHS COVID-19 vaccine is for:
- Adults aged 75 and over, including anyone who turns 75 by 31 January 2027
- Residents of care homes for older adults
- People aged 6 months and over with a weakened immune system because of a health condition or treatment
That's it. The programme runs from 1 October 2026 to 31 January 2027.
At the pharmacy we vaccinate adults. If you're arranging a vaccine for a child with a weakened immune system, their specialist team or GP practice can tell you where to go.
What changed, and why
If you're 65 to 74, you may have had a COVID vaccine every autumn until recently and wondered where your invitation went. Since autumn 2025, people aged 65 to 74 without a weakened immune system haven't been included. Frontline health and social care workers are no longer routinely offered it either.
That follows advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), the independent experts who advise the government on vaccines. Most people now have some immunity from earlier vaccines, infections or both. The risk of serious illness from COVID is now concentrated in the oldest people and those whose immune systems don't respond well, so that's where the NHS programme is focused.
Not eligible is not the same as no risk. If you're unsure whether you qualify, especially because of a condition or a medicine, ask us. And if you don't qualify for COVID, you may still qualify for a free flu jab. That list is much longer.
What counts as a weakened immune system?
This is the group people are least sure about. You're likely to be eligible if, for example, you:
- Are having or have recently had chemotherapy or radiotherapy
- Have a blood cancer such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma
- Have had an organ or bone marrow transplant
- Take high-dose steroids or immunosuppressant medicines, including some treatments for rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, psoriasis or multiple sclerosis
- Have HIV with a weakened immune system
- Have a genetic condition that affects the immune system
- Have no working spleen
This isn't a complete list, and the details matter, such as which medicine, what dose, and how recently. If you're on a treatment that affects your immune system, ask your specialist team or come in and ask us. Bring the name of your medicine if you can.
If you're a patient at Guy's
Borough sits next to Guy's Hospital, home to a large cancer centre and specialist services for transplant, kidney and rheumatology patients. Many people who live or work around here are on exactly the treatments that make them eligible.
If that's you, timing can matter: your team may suggest having the vaccine at a particular point in your treatment cycle. Check with them, then walk in when it suits. Our guide to managing long-term conditions in SE1 covers how we support people on complex medicines.
Don't leave it until January
The programme closes on 31 January 2027, but there's no advantage to waiting. COVID, flu and other winter viruses tend to rise together through December, and the vaccine takes around a week or two to give you its best protection.
Have it with your flu jab. Everyone eligible for the COVID vaccine this autumn is also eligible for a free NHS flu jab. You can usually have both at the same visit, one in each arm. Our walk-in flu jab guide covers the flu side.
What happens when you come in
- Walk in and tell the counter you're here for a COVID vaccine. No appointment needed.
- A short consultation in our private room. The pharmacist confirms you're eligible, often from your NHS record, and checks your previous doses, allergies and current medicines.
- The vaccine, an injection in your upper arm. The pharmacist will tell you which vaccine is being used this season.
- A short wait in the pharmacy afterwards.
- Your record updates on your GP and NHS record electronically.
Common side effects are a sore arm, tiredness, a headache, aches or a mild temperature for a day or two. Rest and paracetamol help. Get urgent help for chest pain, a racing heartbeat or breathlessness in the days after the vaccine. These are very rare, but need checking.
Unwell today? Wait until you've recovered. If you've had COVID recently, the pharmacist will advise on timing.
If you're not eligible
If you don't fall into one of the groups above, you can't get a COVID vaccine free on the NHS this autumn. Some private providers offer it for a fee. We can talk you through your options, but check that a private vaccine makes sense for your situation first.
Meanwhile, the everyday precautions still work. Stay home if you can when you're unwell, especially before visiting someone older or vulnerable. Wash your hands, and air indoor spaces. And if you're under 65 with asthma, diabetes or another long-term condition, check whether you qualify for a free flu jab this season. Many people do and don't know it.
Getting here
We're at 301 Borough High Street, London SE1 1JH, on the main road between London Bridge and Borough station.
- Borough Underground (Northern line): about 2 minutes' walk
- London Bridge (Northern & Jubilee lines, National Rail): about 8 minutes, heading south past Southwark Cathedral and Borough Market
- Elephant & Castle: one stop north on the Northern line to Borough
- Buses: frequent routes stop directly outside
- Guy's Hospital: about ten minutes' walk
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9:00–18:30, Saturday 9:00–14:00. Walk in with no appointment, call 020 7403 2237 to check before you come, or book online.
For winter health beyond vaccines, see our winter health guide for SE1.
If you're 75 or over, live in a care home, or have a weakened immune system, the vaccine is free and available on our doorstep until the end of January. Ten minutes this week is worth it.
