Five ways to winter wellness
Vaccinations
The NHS national booking system is now open, allowing thousands of eligible residents in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin to book their Covid-19 and flu vaccinations for the 2025/2026 winter season.
Residents in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin are being encouraged to book vaccinations ahead of winter to get the best protection.
Appointments for flu and Covid-19 can be booked online via the NHS national booking service, the NHS App, by calling 119, or through your GP practice, or community pharmacy for flu vaccinations. Walk-in appointments for Covid-19 vaccinations are also available, with details on the NHS Walk-in Finder.
Those eligible for winter vaccines will receive invitations from the NHS to encourage them to get their Covid and flu jabs.
Anyone who hasn't yet received previous doses is encouraged to do so to strengthen protection against severe illness.
Covid-19 vaccinations are available until 31 March 2026 for people who are most at risk, including:
- Residents in care homes for older adults
- Adults aged 75 and over
- People aged six months and older who are immunosuppressed
Flu vaccinatons are available until 31 March 2026 for:
- Pregnant women
- Children aged 2 or 3 on 31 August 2025
- Primary school children (reception to year 6)
- Secondary school children (year 7 to year 11)
- Children in clinical risk groups aged six months to under 18 years
- Adults aged 65 and over
- Adults aged 18–64 in clinical risk groups (as defined by the Green Book, Influenza Chapter 19)
- Residents in long-stay care homes
- Carers in receipt of carer’s allowance or who are the main carer of an older or disabled person
- Close contacts of immunocompromised individuals
- Frontline social care workers without an employer-led occupational health scheme
You can find out more about winter wellness, and specifically flu and Covid vaccinations, on the Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin NHS website.
Self care
Keep protecting yourself and others from flu
Keep protecting yourself and others from acute respiratory infections including flu
Acute respiratory infections including flu are unpredictable. You can prevent the spread of these viruses by covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and you can wash your hands frequently or use hand gels to reduce the risk of picking up the viruses.
The best way to avoid catching and spreading flu is by having the vaccination before the flu season starts, which will provide you with the best protection.
- How to wash your hands
- Keeping well includes staying current with all immunisations, including those for children. For more information on available vaccines, please visit Complete routine immunisation schedule - GOV.UK
Staying well in winter
How to stay well in winter - Information from the NHS – visit: How to stay well in winter - NHS (www.nhs.uk) This includes tips for self-care and contains information in other formats: large print, audio, British Sign Language (BSL) and easy read.
Help from your pharmacy
Pharmacists are experts in medicines who can help you with minor health concerns.
Take a look at how your pharmacy can help here: How your pharmacy can help - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Pharmacy First: what you need to know – Department of Health and Social Care Media Centre
NHS 111
NHS 111 can help if you have an urgent medical problem and you’re not sure what to do. Find out more here: When to use NHS 111 - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Life threatening emergencies
Call 999 in a medical emergency. This is when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk. Read more here: When to call 999 - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Live well with your library
Visit your library today and find new ways to relax and enjoy life. Take a look at this flyer for more information.
Welfare and wellbeing
Cost of living help
Many people in Shropshire are worried about rising costs. Lots of information has been brought together by Shropshire Council with its partners, to support our residents at this challenging and worrying time.
Please visit our cost of living help pages to find out more.
Shropshire's community hubs
Shropshire's community hubs offer activities and support for all ages, including early help for families, domestic abuse support, housing information, and much more.
Local information during bad weather
Visit the adverse weather section on our website.
Mental health
Please take a look at our mental health and wellbeing resources webpage, which provides helpful information for people of all ages.
Mental health and wellbeing
We have provided some mental health and wellbeing resources on our website for people of all ages.
TogetherAll
TogetherAll is an online community for any Shropshire resident aged 16 or above and is for people who are stressed, anxious or feeling low. The service has an active forum with round-the-clock support from trained professionals. You can talk anonymously and confidentially to other members.
Bereavement support
Call 0345 678 9028 or visit our bereavement support pages.
Parents, carers, children and young people
Sources of information for parents, carers, children and young people
Young Minds: Mental Health Charity For Children And Young People
Every Mind Matters
Get active
As the cold weather creeps in, and the nights shorten, it is natural to want to stay in and try to keep warm. Keeping active within your own capability during winter though is important and will help to keep you well.
Why it’s good to keep moving - and in winter!
Exercise has a:
- Long-term positive impact on our physical health. People who exercise regularly have a lower risk of developing many long-term (chronic) conditions, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and some cancers.
- Positive effect on mental health by helping to reduce stress and improve sleep and mood. Benefits of exercise - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
What can help?
- Find something to do that you will enjoy, start at your own pace and build up.
- Keeping active can be fun and sociable - whether as part of a structured group and/or in an informal group with friends.
Look at the ‘Getting active’ section below for links to ideas. Some of these can be done indoors or in groups or on your own. If you do exercise alone, please be aware of your personal safety.
Getting active - useful national and local information
Get active - Better Health - NHS (www.nhs.uk) – Some tips of getting active including at home workouts
Join the Movement | Sport England provides links to free (and some paid-for) on-line exercise programmes for everyone including for older adults, pregnant women, people with a disability or long-term health condition/s.
Find a leisure centre or activity in Shropshire. Find local leisure centre facilities, including swimming and Skate parks/BMX facilities.
Find your nearest Fitness and wellbeing exercise classes around Shropshire.
Parkrun UK runs are a free, fun, and friendly weekly 5k community event, which take place every Saturday at 9:00am. Walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate – it's up to you!
Runs take place locally at Alderford Lake (Whitchurch), Shrewsbury (The Quarry), Telford (Telford Town Park), Ludlow (Mortimer Forest), Alveley (Severn Valley Country Park) and Oswestry (Henley Lane). Visit the Parkrun UK website to find out more information and see other Park Run locations. You will need to register just once, before attending.
This Girl Can is an initiative to help celebrate active women no matter how they do it, the school run, home work outs or participating in a team, there is no judgement.
Energize Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin are a local charity and one of 42 organisations within the Active Partnerships network who work collaboratively with local and national partners to create the conditions for an active nation using the power of sport and physical activity to transform lives. They run ‘Elevate’ classes which are designed to improve strength and balance for local people aged 60+.
Shropshire Family Information Directory is an online directory of local and national organisations and services that exist to support children, young people and families. Take a look at the 'things to do' section for activities near you.
We Are Undefeatable – When you’re managing a long-term health condition, being active is about finding what works for you. This site provides great information about the campaign for adults with long-term health conditions including getting started, people’s stories and ways to move more.
Social Prescribing
Social Prescribing is available in all Shropshire GP Practices and can work with you to find a local voluntary and community-based activity which will best suit your needs.