The rollout will target when respiratory viruses reach their peak.
The flu vaccine will be offered to adults aged 65 and over from October 1 (Image: Getty)
NHS England has confirmed a major vaccine rollout will begin for older adults aged 65 and over from October.
The NHS seasonal flu vaccination programme is due to get under way in England in the autumn, before respiratory viruses reach their peak during the winter. Flu becomes particularly prevalent during the colder months thanks to people spending more time indoors and in close contact with others, making it easier for the virus to spread. In most cases, flu will generally get better on its own with a bit of rest, but the virus can make some people seriously ill. As such, the NHS urges those who are at higher risk of becoming seriously ill from flu to get the flu vaccine.
The flu jab is offered on the NHS for free every year in autumn and early winter to certain groups of people at higher risk of serious illness from flu, including older adults aged 65 and over.
NHS England, together with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), have confirmed that the flu vaccine will be offered to people within this age group from October 1.
The October rollout will also include people aged 18 to 65 who are in a clinical risk group, those in long-stay residential care homes, carers in receipt of Carer’s Allowance, close contacts of immunocompromised people, and frontline workers in a social care setting.
A separate rollout will take place from September 1 for pregnant women, children aged two or three on August 31, 2026, primary and secondary school-aged children, and all children in clinical risk groups from six months to less than 18 years.
According to the NHS, flu typically peaks around December and January, so the decision has been made to offer the vaccine to older adults later in the year, from October 1, to ensure its effectiveness when the virus is circulating.
As flu circulation in children normally precedes that in adults, the children’s programme will start earlier from September 1. Protection from the vaccine also lasts “much longer” in children, so an earlier start date for the vaccine rollout could reduce flu rates in older adults “through indirect protection”.
The later October start date for the adult vaccination programme comes based on advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
Confirming the adult flu vaccine rollout in a letter last month, Dr Thomas Waite, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England, Dr Mary Ramsay, Director of Public Health Programmes, UKHSA and Caroline Temmink, Director of Vaccination, NHS England, said: “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.”
The NHS will let you know in autumn or winter when you can get your flu vaccine, which will either be available from your GP surgery or a pharmacy that offers NHS flu vaccination.
It is expected that the majority of vaccinations should be completed by the end of November to ensure as many people as possible are protected ahead of the winter.