Making vaccination easier: NHS teams are expanding access through family drop-in clinics, community sites, and schools.

New for this year: Participating community pharmacies will offer the flu vaccine to 2-and-3-year-olds from 1 October. Find a pharmacy that offers free flu vaccination – NHS. Some school immunisation teams will also offer flu vaccines to 2-and-3-year-olds in nurseries.

• Who’s eligible for the flu vaccine:
  • Anyone age 65+
  • All children aged 2–16 years
  • Children aged 6 months–18 years in clinical risk groups
  • Pregnant women
  • People who live with someone who has a severely weakened immune system.
  • Carers who receive Carer’s Allowance or are the main carer for an elderly or disabled person.
  • People in long-stay residential care homes.

How flu vaccines are delivered:

• School sessions for most school-aged children
• GP practices and community clinics for younger children, those who miss school sessions, and other eligible groups
• Pregnant women via maternity appointments, GP practices, or pharmacies

Booking options

• From 1 September pregnant women and children age 2 – 16 can book their flu vaccine.
• Covid-19 vaccines and flu vaccines for all other eligible groups start 1 October.
• The National Booking Service is open for flu and COVID-19 vaccinations for all groups to book from 1 October.
• People can book online nhs.uk/wintervaccinations, through the NHS App, or by calling 119.

Adult flu vaccination programme dates

The NHS adult flu vaccination programme will begin in early October, with most vaccinations completed by the end of November. This timing aligns with the usual start of the flu season to ensure people are protected before the virus begins to circulate widely.

Why it matters

• Last winter, flu vaccination prevented an estimated 100,000 hospitalisations in England.
• Increasing uptake helps protect individuals at risk and reduces demand on health services during the busiest months.
• Millions of invitations are being sent to eligible people, but they do not need to wait for an invite.
• Stakeholders are encouraged to use the materials on this page to promote uptake and remind people they can book quickly and easily.

The Fluenz Tetra nasal spray is the vaccine currently used, it offers protection against four strains of the Influenza virus which are anticipated to be circulating in the UK this winter. These strains may be different from previous years. Therefore, the World Health Organisation recommends annual vaccination. 

The vaccine does contain a highly processed form of porcine gelatine, to keep it stable and effective. However, the World Health Organisation and Islamic Organisation for Medical Sciences, advised gelatine derived from impure animals has been sufficiently transformed to make it permissible, for use in medicines, including vaccinations.  For more information visit the gov.uk website

Children may develop a runny or blocked nose, headache, tiredness, and reduced appetite, lasting a few days. The vaccine is absorbed quickly so, even if your child sneezes immediately after having had it, there’s no need to worry that it hasn’t worked. Any other side effects are unusual. If you’re worried about any reaction, you can call the NHS 111 service. 

Your child should not have the nasal spray if they:

• are currently wheezy or have been wheezy in the past three days (vaccination should be delayed until at least three days after the wheezing has stopped)
• are severely asthmatic who have previously required intensive care or are currently (or within the last 14 days) being treated with oral steroids
• have a condition that severely weakens their immune system, for example following a bone marrow transplant
• have someone in their household severely immunocompromised who needs isolation
• have had severe anaphylaxis to egg allergy requiring intensive care treatment
• have had severe anaphylaxis to any other components of the vaccine
• are receiving Salicylate therapies (other than topical treatment for localized conditions)

If any of the above applies to your child, please contact your local Immunisation Team to discuss vaccination alternatives. 

Children who have been vaccinated with the nasal spray should avoid household contact with people who have a severely weakened immune system, for 2 weeks following vaccination (e.g., those who are receiving chemotherapy).