Flu vaccine in England: who can get it free and the deadlines
According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) dashboard, flu test positivity was 7.4% in the week up to 1 November, and the hospital admission rate in England rose to 2.8 per 100,000 people, 12.7% higher than in the previous 7 days. On 29 October, Dr Alex Allen, Consultant Epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: “we do usually see cases rising during November”. We explain who can get a free NHS vaccine and how to book. This article is for people living in **England**.
Who can get a free flu vaccine
- People aged 65 or over, including those who will be 65 by 31 March 2027.
- People aged 18 to 64 with certain long-term health conditions: a condition affecting the lungs (respiratory), heart, kidneys, liver, brain or nerves, diabetes or Addison's disease, a learning disability, a weakened immune system or a problem with the spleen, or a BMI of 40 or above.
- People who are pregnant. The NHS states that the vaccine is safe at any stage of pregnancy.
- People who live in a care home.
- The main carer for an older or disabled person, and people who receive carer's allowance.
- People who live with someone who has a weakened immune system.
- People aged 16 or over who are sleeping rough or staying in a homeless hostel or night shelter.
Frontline health and social care workers get the vaccine through their employer. The full list is on the NHS flu vaccine page.
Children
The free vaccine is offered to:
- children aged 2 or 3 on 31 August 2026;
- children aged 4 who have not started school;
- school-aged children from Reception to Year 11;
- children aged 6 months to 17 years with certain long-term health conditions.
Children aged 2-16 are offered the nasal spray vaccine first. It contains pork gelatine, so you can ask for a gelatine-free injection instead. School-aged children are usually vaccinated at school in the autumn term, while children aged 2-3 are vaccinated at a GP surgery or pharmacy, or can be booked in online. More information is on the NHS children's flu vaccine page.
COVID-19 vaccine: narrower groups
This season (until 31 January 2027) the COVID-19 vaccine is available to:
- people aged 75 or over, including those who will be 75 by 31 January 2027;
- people aged 6 months to 74 years who have a weakened immune system because of a health condition or treatment;
- people who live in a care home for older adults.
This means that people aged 65-74 who do not have a weakened immune system, do not live in a care home and will not turn 75 by 31 January 2027 can get a free flu vaccine but not the COVID-19 vaccine. You can book online or in the NHS App (you do not need to wait to be invited), or go to a walk-in vaccination site without an appointment. More information is on the NHS COVID-19 vaccine page.
How to book a flu vaccine
- Online on the nhs.uk website, if you are registered with a GP surgery in England.
- In the NHS App.
- At a pharmacy that offers the free NHS flu vaccine. Some pharmacies also offer walk-in appointments.
- At your GP surgery.
- By calling 119. If you cannot book online, you can call for free. An interpreter is available on request.
Deadlines
- Flu vaccine: the last day to get vaccinated is 31 March 2027, and the last day to book online is 30 March 2027.
- COVID-19 vaccine: the last day is 31 January 2027, and the last day to book online is 30 January 2027.
In the rest of the UK
Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland have separate services, and eligibility differs. People in Northern Ireland can find information on the nidirect website, and people in Wales on the NHS 111 Wales page.
“Londono Žinios” will report if the NHS changes the eligibility rules.
Based on: the NHS pages on the flu vaccine, the children's flu vaccine, the COVID-19 vaccine and booking (nhs.uk); the UKHSA press release on GOV.UK (29 October 2026); the UKHSA dashboard (data up to 1 November 2026); the nidirect and NHS 111 Wales pages.
Republication must credit Londonozinios.com as the source.
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