Flu vaccination update

The flu vaccination campaign begins on 1 October 2026. This webpage will be updated with further updates soon.

Eligible cohorts from 1 September 2026:

  • pregnant women
  • all children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2026
  • primary school and secondary school-aged children (from reception to year 11)
  • (individuals 17 years and over attending a special education needs (SEN) school and who are in a clinical risk group may also be vaccinated alongside their peers)
  • all children in clinical risk groups aged from 6 months to less than 18 years (as defined by the Green Book, Influenza Chapter).

Who is eligible for the flu vaccine?

Those eligible for a flu vaccine include:

  • pregnant women
  • all children aged two or three years on 31 August 2025
  • primary school aged children (from Reception to Year 6)
  • secondary school aged children (from Year 7 to Year 11)
  • adults aged 65 and over
  • people in clinical risk groups
  • those in long-stay residential 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 immunocompromised individuals
  • frontline health and social care workers.

The children's nasal spray flu vaccine is given in schools by a community immunisation team.

Babies and children aged six months to two years with certain health conditions will be offered a flu vaccine injection instead of the nasal spray.

Find out more and book a community clinic for children aged two or three, primary school children and secondary school children.

Getting your free vaccine

The best time to have a flu vaccine is in the autumn before flu starts spreading. The seasonal flu campaign runs from September to March. 

You can have a free NHS flu vaccine at:

  • your GP surgery
  • a pharmacy offering the service (if you're aged 18 or over)
  • some maternity services, if you're pregnant
  • catch-up community clinics (for children).