Vaccinations west Essex services help protect residents from serious infectious diseases. In addition, this page explains which vaccines are recommended, who is eligible, and where to book or attend vaccination appointments locally. Vaccination protects both individuals and the wider community. Therefore, taking up vaccination offers when invited helps prevent serious illness and reduces the spread of infection.
Why vaccinations are important
Vaccines protect you and others by reducing the risk of serious illness and complications. As a result, vaccination helps prevent the spread of infectious diseases and protects vulnerable people. It also reduces hospital admissions and supports long-term public health. If the NHS invites you for a vaccination, you should take up the offer to protect yourself and others.
Find out more about NHS vaccinationsWhere to get vaccinations in west Essex
Residents can access vaccinations west Essex services through GP practices, pharmacies, vaccination clinics and school-based programmes. In most cases, the NHS will contact you directly when you become eligible. However, you can book some vaccinations yourself through your GP practice, pharmacy or the NHS website.
Flu vaccinations 2026-27
The flu is a common and highly infectious illness caused by influenza viruses. Most people recover without treatment, but for some people it can lead to serious complications, a hospital stay and, in some cases, death.
People with certain health conditions, older people, pregnant women and some children are at greater risk of becoming seriously unwell from flu.
Getting vaccinated is one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce your risk of serious illness and help protect those around you. If you are eligible for a free NHS flu vaccine, please take up the offer this autumn.
Those eligible from 1 September 2026
- Pregnant women
- All children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2026
- Primary school aged children (Reception to Year 6)
- Secondary school aged children (Year 7 to Year 11)
- Young people aged 17+ who meet specific criteria
- All children from six months of age who are in clinical risk groups
Those eligible from 1 October 2026
- Adults aged 65 years and over
- Those aged 16-64 in clinical risk groups
- People with certain long term health conditions
- Residents in care homes
- Carers in receipt of Carer’s Allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person
- Close contacts of people who are immunocompromised
- Eligible frontline health and social care workers
You may be at greater risk of becoming seriously ill from flu if you have a long-term health condition, including:
- a lung condition, such as COPD, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis or some types of asthma
- a heart condition, such as heart failure, coronary heart disease or congenital heart disease
- diabetes, including type 1 and type 2 diabetes
- kidney disease, including chronic kidney disease
- liver disease, such as cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis
- a neurological condition, such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, motor neurone disease, dementia, or if you have had a stroke
- a weakened immune system because of a health condition or treatment, such as chemotherapy, some medicines that suppress the immune system, or HIV
- a condition affecting your spleen, including sickle cell disease, or if you have had your spleen removed
- severe obesity, with a BMI of 40 or above
- adrenal insufficiency, such as Addison’s disease
This is not a complete list. Some other health conditions may also mean you are at higher risk from flu.
If you are not sure whether you are eligible for a free NHS flu vaccine, speak to your GP practice or community pharmacist.
How to book a vaccination
You can book many vaccinations through your GP practice. For example, your practice may contact you by text message, letter, NHS App notification or phone call. If you believe you are eligible but have not received an invitation, contact your GP practice directly.
Book online
For some vaccination programmes, you can book online using the NHS booking system or NHS App.
You can pre-book your flu vaccination from August 17 2026.
Book through a pharmacy
Pharmacies across west Essex provide convenient access to vaccinations, including flu, RSV and COVID-19 vaccines. In addition, many pharmacies offer walk-in appointments, making it easier to get vaccinated at a time that suits you.
- Asvacare Ltd, Buckhurst Hill, IG9 5BY
- Boots, Saffron Walden, CB10 1HR
- Brook House Pharmacy, Chigwell, IG7 6PF
- Chipping Ongar Pharmacy, Ongar, CM5 9JG
- Church Langley Pharmacy, Harlow, CM17 9TG
- Day Lewis Pharmacy, Loughton, IG10 2NN
- Dees Pharmacy, Harlow, CM19 5EE
- Easter Pharmacy, Buckhurst Hill, IG9 6LL
- Elgon Chemists, Waltham Abbey, EN9 2JL
- Greenway Pharmacy, Harlow, CM18 6NW
- Harlow Town Pharmacy, Harlow, CM20 1FT
- Loughton Pharmacy, Loughton, IG10 1HW
- Medicare Pharmacy, Harlow, CM19 5RD
- Morrisons Pharmacy, Loughton, IG10 1RB
- Netteswell Pharmacy, Harlow, CM20 3NG
- Newport Pharmacy, Saffron Walden, CB11 3QY
- Peacock Pharmacy, Stansted, CM24 8XG
- Potter Street Pharmacy, Harlow, CM17 9BG
- Reliance Pharmacy, Waltham Abbey, EN9 1EE
- Reliance Pharmacy, Waltham Abbey, EN9 1NP
- Reliance Pharmacy, Waltham Abbey, EN9 3EL
- Ropers The Chemist, Dunmow, CM6 1AB
- Rosewood Pharmacy, Epping, CM16 4DA
- Stow Pharmacy, Harlow, CM20 3AH
- Tesco In-store Pharmacy, Harlow, CM17 9TE
- Thaxted Pharmacy, Dunmow, CM6 2LD
- Theydon Bois Pharmacy Limited, Epping, CM16 7EY
- Well, Saffron Walden, CB10 1ED
- Well, Epping, CM16 6TL
- Well, Harlow, CM20 3AS
- Well, Ongar, CM5 9JJ
- Yogi Pharmacies, Dunmow, CM6 1AX
- Yogi Pharmacy, Bishop’s Stortford, CM22 6SH
- Asvacare Ltd, Buckhurst Hill, IG9 5BY
- Boots, Saffron Walden, CB10 1HR
- Boots, Harlow, CM20 1JA
- Brook House Pharmacy, Chigwell, IG7 6PF
- Chipping Ongar Pharmacy, Ongar, CM5 9JG
- Church Langley Pharmacy, Harlow, CM17 9TG
- Day Lewis Pharmacy, Loughton, IG10 2NN
- Dees Pharmacy, Harlow, CM19 5EE
- Easter Pharmacy, Buckhurst Hill, IG9 6LL
- Elgon Chemists, Waltham Abbey, EN9 2JL
- Greenway Pharmacy, Harlow, CM18 6NW
- Harlow Town Pharmacy, Harlow, CM20 1FT
- Loughton Pharmacy, Loughton, IG10 1HW
- Medicare Pharmacy, Harlow, CM19 5RD
- Metwest Pharmacy, Harlow, CM18 6YJ
- Morrisons Pharmacy, Loughton, IG10 1RB
- Netteswell Pharmacy, Harlow, CM20 3NG
- Newport Pharmacy, Saffron Walden, CB11 3QY
- Oakwood Pharmacy, Loughton, IG10 3EJ
- Peacock Pharmacy, Stansted, CM24 8XG
- Potter Street Pharmacy, Harlow, CM17 9BG
- Reliance Pharmacy, Waltham Abbey, EN9 1EE
- Reliance Pharmacy, Waltham Abbey, EN9 1NP
- Reliance Pharmacy, Waltham Abbey, EN9 3EL
- Ropers The Chemist, Dunmow, CM6 1AB
- Rosewood Pharmacy, Epping, CM16 4DA
- Stow Pharmacy, Harlow, CM20 3AH
- Tesco In-store Pharmacy, Harlow, CM17 9TE
- Thaxted Pharmacy, Dunmow, CM6 2LD
- Theydon Bois Pharmacy Limited, Epping, CM16 7EY
- Total Medcare Limited, Loughton, IG10 3UD
- Well, Saffron Walden, CB10 1ED
- Well, Epping, CM16 6TL
- Well, Harlow, CM20 3AS
- Well, Ongar, CM5 9JJ
- Yogi Pharmacies, Dunmow, CM6 1AX
- Yogi Pharmacy, Bishop’s Stortford, CM22 6SH
- Asvacare Ltd, Buckhurst Hill, IG9 5BY
- Boots, Harlow, CM20 1JA
- Chipping Ongar Pharmacy, Ongar, CM5 9JG
- Church Langley Pharmacy, Harlow, CM17 9TG
- Day Lewis Pharmacy, Loughton, IG10 2NN
- Dees Pharmacy, Harlow, CM19 5EE
- Easter Pharmacy, Buckhurst Hill, IG9 6LL
- Elgon Chemists, Waltham Abbey, EN9 2JL
- Greenway Pharmacy, Harlow, CM18 6NW
- Harlow Town Pharmacy, Harlow, CM20 1FT
- Loughton Pharmacy, Loughton, IG10 1HW
- Medicare Pharmacy, Harlow, CM19 5RD
- Metwest Pharmacy, Harlow, CM18 6YJ
- Morrisons Pharmacy, Loughton, IG10 1RB
- Netteswell Pharmacy, Harlow, CM20 3NG
- Newport Pharmacy, Saffron Walden, CB11 3QY
- Peacock Pharmacy, Stansted, CM24 8XG
- Potter Street Pharmacy, Harlow, CM17 9BG
- Reliance Pharmacy, Waltham Abbey, EN9 1EE
- Reliance Pharmacy, Waltham Abbey, EN9 3EL
- Stow Pharmacy, Harlow, CM20 3AH
- Tesco In-store Pharmacy, Harlow, CM17 9TE
- Thaxted Pharmacy, Dunmow, CM6 2LD
- Theydon Bois Pharmacy Limited, Epping, CM16 7EY
- Well, Saffron Walden, CB10 1ED
- Well, Epping, CM16 6TL
- Well, Harlow, CM20 3AS
- Well, Ongar, CM5 9JJ
Maternity vaccinations in west Essex
Vaccination during pregnancy protects both you and your baby. Therefore, maternity vaccination clinics provide an opportunity to speak with healthcare professionals, ask questions and receive recommended vaccines.
The clinic is located within the antenatal centre.
Appointment: No booking required – this is a drop-in clinic
Day: Saturday
Time: 9.30am to 4.30pm
School-age vaccination services
Children and young people receive routine vaccinations through school-based programmes. As a result, these programmes protect children and help prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Parents and carers usually receive information and consent forms in advance.
East of England community and school-aged immunisation service
The service is provided by Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust.
Please contact the team if you have questions about whether you or your family members are eligible for a vaccine, or, if you’d like to know more about community clinics where you may be vaccinated.
If you are contacting the team by email, they aim to respond within 2 working days.
- Phone number:
- 0300 555 5055 (Option 6)
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Monday to Friday:
- 8:30am to 4:30pm