This fall, parents will be able to get their two- and three-year-old children vaccinated against the flu for the first time at local pharmacies.
About 4,000 pharmacies have signed up to administer the vaccine to the 1.2 million eligible young children starting next week, making it easier than ever for busy parents to protect their little ones from getting seriously ill with the flu before winter.
Thousands of community pharmacies, including those in local supermarkets and those on high streets, will start walk-in and reserved flu vaccine appointments from next Wednesday (October 1) for two- and three-year-olds and all other eligible adults, in a bid to make it as convenient as possible for people to be protected.
This is just one of the ways the NHS is helping to winterize its services and improve access to vaccines for people, and comes alongside some areas with low uptake delivering vaccines in nurseries and hosting mobile vaccination buses to help reach more vulnerable people of all ages.
The flu vaccine is usually given to young children via a quick, painless nasal spray.
Starting flu vaccination throughout the fall will ensure that people most at risk are protected when flu season peaks, typically in December and January, when more people gather indoors and viruses can spread.
England’s top nurse is urging parents to come forward as soon as possible as vaccination is the best way to protect their children from falling ill with flu and prevent hospitalizations due to the virus this winter.
Duncan Burton, England’s chief nursing officer, said: “For busy families, it can be difficult to fit everything in, but parents will now be able to head to a high street pharmacy or local supermarket to protect their little ones before winter, when bugs tend to circulate.
“The flu can make toddlers and young children very sick, and vaccination is the best way to protect them, so we’re making it easier than ever to get the vaccine closer to home.
“I urge all parents to bring their children forward – the vaccine, which is usually given to young children as a quick, painless spray into the nose, is safe, effective and has been shown to help prevent hospitalizations from flu, so check with your local pharmacy, book an appointment online or speak to your GP.”
The expansion into pharmacies is also a key example of how the NHS is moving healthcare from disease to prevention as part of the 10-year health plan, improving access to vaccines and keeping people out of hospital.
Since early September, vaccination teams have been distributing flu vaccines to pregnant women and children through GP surgeries, maternity services and schools.
Beginning October 1, flu vaccines will begin to be distributed to all eligible individuals. More than 12 million email invitations will be sent this week, with more invitations sent throughout the month via the NHS app, text messages and letters.
Those eligible do not need to wait for an invitation to book – they can make an appointment now to receive the flu vaccine at a pharmacy via the NHS app or at their GP surgery, online at www.nhs.uk/bookflu or through 119. Starting next Wednesday (October 1) you will be able to use the pharmacy finder to find walk-in appointments.
People over 75 and immunocompromised people can book their COVID-19 vaccine directly with their GP or at a pharmacy via the NHS app, online at www.nhs.uk/bookcovid or through 119.
Last winter, flu patients occupied more than 300,000 hospital bed days, almost double the previous winter (175,062 in 2023-24) and nearly 50% more than the previous year (216,120 in 2022-23).
The COVID-19 vaccine is available for adults age 75 and older, nursing home residents, and immunocompromised people.
Flu vaccines are available to everyone over 65, those under 65 in clinical risk groups, nursing home residents and carers, close contacts of immunocompromised people, frontline social workers and health and social care staff, as well as children and pregnant women.
Health Minister Ashley Dalton said: “With winter approaching and flu season just around the corner, this is a crucial step in protecting our youngest children when they need it most. By expanding vaccination services to major pharmacies for the first time, we are making it easier than ever for families to get life-saving protection closer to home before the cold months arrive.
“Last winter alone, flu accounted for more than 300,000 hospital bed-days, and we cannot afford a repeat of this in our NHS this winter. It is exactly the kind of preventative healthcare approach this Government has committed to delivering through our Ten Year Health Plan – protecting people before they get sick, especially during the challenging winter months ahead.”
Last year, the NHS delivered more than 18.5 million flu vaccines to adults and children, including more than half a million to children aged 2 and 3 (18,520,146 in total and 524,648 to children aged 2 and 3 during autumn/winter 2024/25).
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) found that the flu vaccine is estimated to have prevented between 96,000 and 120,200 people from being hospitalized in England last winter in 2024-25.
Dr Suzanna McDonald, flu vaccination program leader at UKHSA, said: “It’s great to see pharmacies supporting parents of 2 and 3-year-olds and offering greater flexibility to help improve access to flu vaccines ahead of this winter. The flu can be a very unpleasant illness for anyone and every year thousands of children end up in hospital with the flu. No one wants this for their child, so do your best and make sure they get their flu shot in time to give them this important protection”.
The health service will also ensure vital medicines such as Tamiflu are readily available to those at high risk of developing flu complications.
Janet Morrison, chief executive of Community Pharmacy England, said: “Community pharmacies are pleased to now be able to offer the NHS flu vaccine to children aged 2 and 3, as well as adults. With a network of pharmacies in key locations where people live, work and shop, this new service should make it easier for parents to protect their children. Increasing vaccination rates will help keep flu at bay in our communities this winter.”
