School Aged Flu Vaccination Programme 2026/27

The Department of Health and Social Care has instructed the NHS to complete all first school visits for flu vaccination by the end of November 2026, two weeks earlier than in previous years. This accelerated timeline aims to ensure children are protected before flu starts to circulate widely and will require close and timely collaboration between schools and School Aged Immunisation (SAI) teams.

To deliver the programme within this shorter timeframe, SAI teams will need early engagement and the continued practical support from schools that is always gratefully received.

The letter from NHS England and the Director of Public Health (PDF, 143.1 KB) outlines further details.