Around 26 million people in England are eligible for a Covid-19 booster jab this winter and the NHS is encouraging many to get their flu jabs too.
Everybody over 50 can get a winter booster for coronavirus along with younger people who are in an at-risk group or work in frontline health and social care.
The over 50s are also offered a free flu jab as are many school children, including all of primary school age. For most children a nasal spray vaccine is used, while adults get an injection.
Read more: Side effects of new vaccines for Covid winter boosters may be different
With winter on its way and the pandemic not over, there is sadly a chance you may come down with an illness when you are due to get either a Covid booster or a flu jab. If you feel unwell, the advice is to wait.
Should I get a Covid jab if I have cold, covid or flu symptoms?
The NHS says that if you have symptoms of Covid-19 - including cold symptoms - then you "should wait until your symptoms are better before you get the vaccine."
You are asked to wait 28 days if you are over 18 or a child aged five to 17 who is at high risk from Covid-19.
"This starts from the date your symptoms started or from the date of a positive test, whichever was earlier," the NHS says.
Should I get a flu vaccine if I have cold, covid or flu symptoms?
The NHS asks adults to wait until they feel better before getting a flu vaccine if they are ill with a high temperature.
Children getting a nasal spray flu vaccine are advised to wait until they feel better if they have either a runny nose or a high temperature.
Covid-19, cold and flu symptoms
Many coronavirus, cold and flu symptoms are often similar. The NHS states that they include:
- a high temperature or shivering (chills) – a high temperature means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
- a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours
- a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
- shortness of breath
- feeling tired or exhausted
- an aching body
- a headache
- a sore throat
- a blocked or runny nose
- loss of appetite
- diarrhoea
- feeling sick or being sick
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