A significant change in Covid-19 vaccine eligibility this autumn has left many people in the UK unsure whether they can still get their booster.

According to updated guidance from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the free vaccine will now only be offered to those most at risk of serious illness. The new rules, based on advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), have caused widespread confusion at pharmacies and NHS booking sites.

Who Is Eligible for the Covid Vaccine in 2025?

The NHS will provide free Covid vaccines this autumn to:

• Adults aged 75 years and over (including those who turn 75 before January 2026)
• Residents in older adult care homes
• Immunosuppressed individuals aged six months and above, including:
  • Organ, bone marrow or stem cell transplant patients
  • People living with HIV
  • Patients receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy
  • Those taking long-term systemic steroids

Everyone outside these groups must pay privately if they wish to receive a Covid booster. Pharmacies are charging around £100 per dose.

Who Is No Longer Eligible?

The biggest change is the removal of free vaccines for adults aged 65–74, pregnant women, frontline health and social care workers, and people with long-term conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma, and severe mental illness.

Last year, adults aged 65 and over were included. Now, only those aged 75+ remain on the free eligibility list.

The JCVI explained the shift by saying Covid is now a “relatively mild disease for most people,” and resources should be focused on those at highest risk of hospitalisation or death.

READ ALSO

CDC’s new COVID-19 vaccine guidance: Shared decision-making or hidden restriction? What it means for seniors, kids, and US health policy

NHS Booking Confusion Sparks Anger

Despite the tighter rules, many people have been able to book Covid jab appointments online via the NHS system, only to be turned away at pharmacies.

Pharmacists across England report that up to half of patients who book online are ineligible, leading to angry scenes. Some staff have faced verbal abuse and even objects being thrown.

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) and Community Pharmacy England (CPE) have raised urgent complaints with NHS England, calling the situation “unacceptable.”

Henry Gregg, NPA chief executive, said:

“Patients who are not eligible have been wrongly booking Covid jabs. This confusion should have been avoided. We ask the public to respect pharmacy staff who are simply following NHS rules.”

Why Is the Flu Jab Different?

Adding to the confusion, the flu vaccine remains available to a much wider group on the NHS, including:

• Adults aged 65 and over
• Pregnant women
• Carers and those on carer’s allowance
• People with certain long-term health conditions
• Frontline health and social care workers

Because flu and Covid vaccine bookings overlap online, many people assume they qualify for both, leading to more frustration at appointments.

What Should You Do Before Booking?

The NHS urges everyone to double-check eligibility before booking an appointment.

• The NHS website lists the updated Covid vaccine criteria.
• GPs and pharmacists will confirm eligibility before administering the jab.
• If you are not eligible, you can still choose to pay privately.

What Happens Next?

The new policy is likely to remain in place through winter, but campaigners are calling on the government to provide clearer communication to avoid more public anger.

For now, older adults and immunosuppressed individuals remain the priority groups for free Covid vaccination on the NHS.

FAQ

Q1: Who is eligible for the Covid vaccine in the UK in 2025?

In autumn 2025, free NHS Covid vaccines are only available to adults aged 75 and over, residents in older adult care homes, and immunosuppressed individuals aged six months and above.

Q2: Why has Covid vaccine eligibility changed this year?

The JCVI recommended narrowing eligibility because Covid is now a relatively mild disease for most people. Hospitalisations and deaths have significantly declined, so resources are focused on those at highest risk.

Q3: Can I still get a Covid vaccine if I’m under 75?

Yes, but not for free on the NHS. Adults under 75 who are not immunosuppressed must pay privately, with doses costing around £100 at pharmacies.

Q4: Why are people being turned away from pharmacies after booking online?

The NHS booking system allowed some ineligible patients to book appointments. Pharmacies must follow the official eligibility rules, which has led to many people being refused the Covid jab upon arrival.

Q5: Are people with diabetes or heart disease still eligible for free Covid vaccines?

No. Unlike in 2024, those with long-term health conditions such as diabetes, asthma, heart disease, or severe mental illness are no longer eligible for a free jab this year.

Q6: Is the flu vaccine eligibility different from the Covid vaccine?

Yes. The flu jab is still offered free to a much wider group, including adults over 65, pregnant women, carers, and people with certain chronic health conditions. This difference has caused confusion when booking both together online.

Q7: Are pregnant women eligible for the Covid vaccine on the NHS?

Not anymore. Pregnant women can still get the flu jab for free, but the Covid vaccine is only free if they fall into another eligibility category, such as being immunosuppressed.

Q8: What should I do before booking a Covid vaccine?

Check the updated eligibility list on the NHS website. If unsure, consult your GP or pharmacist. They will confirm eligibility before administering the jab.

Q9: How much does the Covid vaccine cost privately in the UK?

The private Covid booster costs around £100 per dose at high street pharmacies such as Boots and Lloyds.

Q10: Will the NHS Covid vaccine eligibility change again?

Eligibility is reviewed each year by the JCVI. If new variants cause a rise in severe cases, the criteria may be expanded again, but for 2025, the focus remains on those 75+ and immunosuppressed.