Overview

• Free flu vaccinations are now available to pregnant women and all children aged 2 to 16 in England, with eligibility extended to those aged 6 months to 18 years in clinical risk groups.
• The NHS National Booking System is open for eligible people to schedule flu and COVID-19 vaccinations for appointments from 1 October, with flu jabs running through March 2026 and adult COVID boosters through January 2026.
• For the first time, school immunisation teams in some areas are vaccinating two- and three-year-olds in nurseries, and selected localities such as Suffolk and north east Essex are offering the child nasal spray in community pharmacies.
• Most school-aged children will be vaccinated in school, younger children and those who miss sessions can attend GP practices or community clinics, and pregnant women can receive the jab at maternity appointments, GP surgeries or pharmacies.
• From October, flu vaccines expand to everyone 65 and over plus other higher‑risk groups, with officials citing more than 300,000 flu‑related hospital bed days last winter and an estimated 100,000 hospitalisations prevented by vaccination as reasons to book now.