Flu vaccination programme

Flu is a virus that can lead to serious illnesses and death. There are outbreaks most winters and the flu virus is constantly changing. Each year, flu vaccines are changed to match the flu viruses circulating.

It is important those eligible take up their offer of their flu vaccination to:

• help protect individuals
• protect our communities
• help our health and care services 

Eligibility for the 2026 to 2027 flu vaccination programme

This autumn and winter we are offering the flu vaccine to:

• children aged 2 and 3 years on 31 August 2026 (with a date of birth on or after 1 September 2022 and on or before 31 August 2024)
• school aged children from reception to year 11 (inclusive)
• people aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group as defined in the Green Book, Influenza Chapter
• people aged 65 years and older (age on 31 March 2027)
• all adult residents in Welsh prisons
• pregnant women
• carers of a person whose health or welfare may be at risk if the carer falls ill
• health and social care workers and NHS Trust staff
• people experiencing homelessness
• household contacts of the immunocompromised (defined as immunosuppressed in table 19.4 in chapter 19 of the Green Book, Influenza Chapter)
• poultry workers and livestock (cattle and swine) workers who are at higher risk of exposure to zoonotic influenza

Further detail on these cohorts can be found on the eligible groups page for this flu programme.

Specific guidance in relation to the children’s programme and health and social care workers can be found on the eligible groups page for this flu programme.

If you are an adult in a risk group, are pregnant, or are aged 65 or over, you can get your flu vaccine at your GP surgery or at some community pharmacies. If you work in health or social care, ask your employer where to get your vaccine.

Care home staff and domiciliary carers should talk to their community pharmacy about getting their flu vaccine.

Your GP surgery or school nurse will contact children who are eligible for a flu vaccine. If you think your child might have missed their vaccine, contact the school nurse or GP surgery.

Some vulnerable groups will be offered both flu and COVID-19 vaccines during the same appointment. Where this is not possible, we will ensure you are aware of where and how to get both these vaccines.

You can find more information about the flu vaccine on the Public Health Wales website.