The NHS has begun its 2026 winter flu programme earlier than ever, urging children and pregnant women to take up vaccination from 1 September as health services move to reduce pressure on hospitals before the cold season takes hold.
Early rollout targets groups at higher risk
According to NHS England, millions of children and pregnant women can receive their flu vaccinations from today as the first phase of the programme gets under way. Teams are offering vaccines in local communities, high street pharmacies and mobile vans, while most school-aged children will be vaccinated at school.
Parents of two- and three-year-olds, and families of children in a clinical risk group, will be invited to arrange appointments through their GP practice. Pregnant women can get the jab at any stage of pregnancy and are advised to speak to their maternity team, GP practice or a participating pharmacy.
Officials say flu can still lead to serious illness
NHS England said flu can be more than a bad cold and noted that thousands of children need hospital care every winter because of the virus. Pregnant women are also at greater risk of becoming seriously ill. Dr Amanda Doyle, National Director for Primary Care and Community Services at NHS England, said vaccination takes only a few minutes but can make a real difference in helping protect people and those around them.
The health service said around 104,000 hospitalisations were estimated to have been avoided last year, while nearly 19 million people received a flu jab in England last winter. Pregnant women are also able to receive the RSV vaccine, along with whooping cough and flu vaccines, to help protect newborn babies in their first weeks.
Winter planning begins as the NHS looks to protect capacity
The early start is part of broader winter planning across the NHS, which said vaccines play a vital role in protecting those most at risk and helping ease pressure on services. The programme is being rolled out ahead of the peak winter virus season, when flu typically spreads quickly among younger age groups and can place added strain on hospitals.
For full details on eligibility and access, NHS England has published its latest guidance on the winter flu programme, with the campaign beginning first for children and pregnant women before expanding to other eligible groups later in the autumn.
Photo source: AI-generated or edited image
