The NHS has confirmed a significant change to the flu vaccination programme for the 2026 to 2027 season, with community pharmacies now able to administer flu jabs to children. Starting from 1 October 2026, community pharmacy services will offer flu vaccinations to 2- and 3-year-olds, as well as to children in clinical risk groups aged 2 to under 18 years. This new provision supplements existing offers from general practice and school-aged immunisation services (SAIS), which will begin vaccinating from 1 September 2026, or as soon as vaccine becomes available.
New Age Threshold and Start Dates
The national flu immunisation programme 2026 to 2027 introduces a revised age threshold, with community pharmacy delivery targeting younger children. General practice will start vaccinating children from 1 September 2026, while community pharmacy services for children will begin on 1 October 2026. For adults, the programme will continue to start on 1 October 2026, as per advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). Dr Thomas Waite, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England, Dr Mary Ramsay, Director of Public Health Programmes at UKHSA, and Caroline Temmink, Director of Vaccination at NHS England, stated: “In line with the advice from JCVI, the start of the adult programme for 2026 to 2027 will continue to be 1 October. This start date is based on evidence of the waning of flu vaccine’s effectiveness in adults which means that it is preferable to vaccinate individuals closer to the time when the flu virus is likely to circulate. As flu typically peaks in December or January, this will provide optimal protection during the highest risk period, even in early seasons such as we saw in 2025 to 2026 season.”
Uptake and Additional Measures
Uptake of the flu vaccine among people aged 65 and over and among care home residents remains strong, according to the NHS. Maintaining current uptake is essential to reducing severe illness, hospitalisations, and winter pressures on the health and care system. To supplement GP local call/re-call, national digital-first invites to people aged 65 and over will be sent from late September, supported by a multi-channel marketing and communications campaign. Regional commissioners must ensure all residents in long-stay residential care homes have been offered vaccinations by 30 November, and NHS trusts must have plans in place to offer vaccinations to all eligible long-stay inpatients (21 days and above) and to all patients being discharged from hospital into a care home.
