The NHS has begun its 2026 winter flu vaccination campaign, with children and pregnant women among the first groups able to get protected from 1 September, as health leaders move to reduce pressure on hospitals before the colder months set in.
According to NHS England, millions of children and pregnant women are eligible for the jab at the start of the programme, with vaccines being offered through schools, GP practices, maternity services, participating pharmacies and community teams. The rollout is designed to make access easier while the virus is still relatively contained, before flu typically peaks later in the winter.
Priority groups urged to come forward early
The NHS said most school-aged children will receive their flu vaccination at school, while parents of two- and three-year-olds, and children in clinical risk groups, should arrange an appointment through their GP practice. Pregnant women can get vaccinated at any stage of pregnancy and are being advised to speak to their maternity team, GP practice or a participating pharmacy.
The programme will expand to other eligible groups from 1 October, including people aged 65 and over, adults with certain long-term conditions, care home residents, carers, close contacts of immunocompromised people, people experiencing homelessness, and frontline health and social care workers. NHS England also said parents of two- and three-year-olds will be able to book appointments at participating community pharmacies through the National Booking Service from October.
Winter protection and NHS capacity
Health officials say the earlier start for children and pregnant women is intended to help protect those most at risk of becoming seriously unwell and to reduce onward spread to babies, grandparents and other vulnerable people. NHS England 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.
The rollout comes as the NHS prepares for a busy winter period and tries to avoid avoidable admissions. The programme is being accompanied by wider messaging that flu is more than a bad cold and can lead to serious illness, including hospital care, particularly for young children, pregnant women and people with underlying health conditions.
Separately, the NHS’s year-round RSV vaccination programme is also expanding from 1 September to include people aged 65 to 74 with a weakened immune system, or certain long-term lung conditions, adding another layer of protection ahead of the winter virus season.
Dr Amanda Doyle, National Director for Primary Care and Community Services at NHS England, said vaccination can make a “real difference” for families and the wider community. Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Yvette Cooper said the campaign will help protect the most vulnerable and relieve pressure on the NHS over the winter months.
More information on eligibility and access is available through the NHS. Read the NHS announcement
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