Disease · Measles & vaccine-preventable · 5 November 2026
UKHSA urges eligible people to vaccinate before Diwali
The UK Health Security Agency has urged eligible people to get vaccinated against flu, COVID-19, and RSV ahead of Diwali and winter. UKHSA announced that vaccines take several days to provide maximum protection, urging early uptake.
The UK Health Security Agency has called on people celebrating Diwali to get vaccinated if they are eligible. The agency urged individuals to seek protection against flu, COVID-19, and RSV before the festival and the winter season.
Vaccines take several days to provide maximum protection, according to UKHSA. Levels of flu, COVID-19, and RSV are currently low, but flu is expected to increase in November. Spending more time indoors in enclosed spaces with less ventilation increases the risk of airborne respiratory viruses spreading.
Eligibility for vaccines is based on being at greater risk of serious illness and hospitalisation. Those aged 65 and over, under 65s in clinical risk groups, care home residents and carers, close contacts of immunosuppressed individuals, frontline health and social care workers, children, and pregnant women can access the free NHS flu vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine is available free to those aged 75 and over, immunosuppressed individuals, and care home residents for older adults. Vaccination teams across England are working to protect millions at risk of serious illness this winter.
Written by StreetOwl from UKHSA’s own announcement. It was drafted by StreetOwl’s own model, every figure and quotation was checked by code against the announcement, and it was read and approved by Michael Rossi before it went up. It says what was announced, not what anyone should do about it.
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