From today, the national booking system is open so eligible people, including pregnant women and children, can pre-book their flu vaccinations when vaccinations start on 1 September. 

Chief nursing officer for England, Duncan Burton, said: ‘The NHS is kicking off its preparations for winter earlier than ever, with millions of flu jab appointments for pregnant women and children available to book from today ahead of vaccinations starting next month.

‘The flu jab is one of our best defences against winter illness. It takes just a few minutes, but it can protect you for months, helping to prevent serious illness, avoid hospital admissions and keep the most vulnerable people safe.'

Around 104,000 hospitalisations are estimated to have been avoided last year. Last winter, nearly 19m people received their flu jab in England.

Local NHS services will begin sending invites to the first cohort of people eligible – children and pregnant women - next month via their GP practice, NHS app or letter. 

Other cohorts will begin receiving the jab from 1 October. These include those aged 65 years and over, all adults in a clinical risk group, and adults in care homes, carers and people in close contact with the immunocompromised and frontline healthcare workers.