Flu Vaccination

The below groups will be eligible for a Flu vaccine from the 1st September 2026 with additional cohort eligibility from 1st October 2026

National flu immunisation programme 2026 to 2027 letter – GOV.UK

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)
• all children in clinical risk groups aged from 6 months to less than 18 years (as defined by the Green Book, Influenza Chapter)

From 1st October 2026:

• those aged 65 years and over
• those aged 18 years to under 65 years in clinical risk groups (as defined by the Green Book, Influenza Chapter 19)
• 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 workers in a social care setting without an employer-led occupational health scheme, including those working for a registered residential care or nursing home, registered domiciliary care providers, voluntary managed hospice providers and those that are employed by those who receive direct payments (personal budgets), or Personal Health budgets, such as personal assistants

All frontline health care workers, including both clinical and non-clinical staff who have contact with patients, should be offered flu vaccine from 1 October as a vital part of the organisation’s policy for the prevention of the transmission of flu. Employers should make the vaccine accessible for all frontline staff, encourage staff to get vaccinated, and monitor the delivery of their programmes. Further communications from NHS England will describe operational considerations.

Social care workers directly working with people clinically vulnerable to flu should also have the flu vaccine provided by their employer. There are circumstances where frontline staff, employed by specific social care providers without access to employer-led occupational health schemes (see frontline workers eligibility above), can access the vaccine through the NHS free of charge.

How to book a Flu vaccine

If you’re eligible for an NHS Flu vaccine, you can get your vaccine from:

• Your GP surgery
• If resident in a care home a PCN team will arrange a visit to administer the vaccination at the care home (teams will co-administer Flu and Covid-19 where able to)
• National booking system Vaccinations National Booking Service – NHS England Digital
• A pharmacy that offers NHS Flu Vaccination (if aged 18 or above) https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/prescriptions-and-pharmacies/pharmacy-nhs-flu-vaccine-service/  if you:
  • Are aged 65 years old or over (inc if you’ll be 65 by the 31st of March)
  • You have certain long-term health conditions.
  • You are a front-line worker in a social care setting and who cannot get a vaccination from your employer.
  • The pharmacy will tell you how and when you can book your vaccination.
  • Some maternity services (if you are pregnant)
  • You should have the Flu vaccine if you are pregnant to help protect you and your baby. It’s safe to have a Flu vaccine at any stage of pregnancy https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/flu-jab-vaccine-pregnant/

The age cohorts for flu and COVID-19 vaccinations have been aligned and facilitate co-administration where possible.

Health & Social Care Staff

If you have been given a voucher for a flu vaccine by your employer, you’ll be able to use this at a pharmacy that offers this service. Check with the pharmacy if they’ll accept the voucher.

If you’re a social care worker who is eligible to have a flu vaccine on the NHS, you do not need to present your ID at a pharmacy. However, if your employer can provide you with a letter identifying you as a social care worker it may make things easier on the day.

You can find out more information about both vaccines by visiting www.nhs.uk/flujab and www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccine.

Health and Social Care Workers with Vouchers

If you have been given a voucher for a flu vaccine by your employer, you’ll be able to use this at a pharmacy that offers this service. Check with the pharmacy if they’ll accept the voucher.

If you’re a social care worker who is eligible to have a flu vaccine on the NHS, you do not need to present your ID at a pharmacy. However, if your employer can provide you with a letter identifying you as a social care worker it may make things easier on the day.

You can find out more information about both vaccines by visiting www.nhs.uk/flujab and www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccine.

Important

It is important to go to your vaccination appointments unless, you have a high temperature or feel too unwell to go to work or do your normal activities.

Protect yourself this winter. Get your flu and COVID-19 vaccinations as soon as you they offered to you. Vaccination poster

Resources

Vaccinations –  An overview of vaccines that help protect vulnerable people. Preventing infections reduces the need for antibiotics, lowering the risk of resistance development.

• Podbean – https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-23yxh-1972503
• Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/episode/7mY3RRsNc6VCzx8DhtnwHT?si=bK3bQlf7SP-qtyOytg-9LA
• Youtube – https://youtu.be/y92tR2_mI60?si=hQe-IsSB0QNi2Z0

Further information about vaccination – Why Vaccination is important and the safest way to protect yourself.

Guide on vaccinations eligibility – Quick guide to vaccination eligibility for Adult Social Care

Flu and covid video – Flu and Covid vaccinene