In Health & NHS news

Follow this topic

Bookmark

Record learning outcomes

NHS England has confirmed details of the flu and Covid-19 seasonal vaccination programme for winter 2025/26 in guidance published last week.

The authorised cohorts eligible for a Covid-19 vaccine in the autumn are:

• residents in a care home for older adults

• all adults aged 75 years and over

• persons aged 6 months and over who are immunosuppressed, as defined in tables 3 and 4 of the Covid-19 chapter of the Green Book.

Flu vaccinations for pregnant women and all eligible children will start from 1 September. For school aged cohorts, vaccination in schools should be completed by 12 December.

All other adult flu cohorts will start from 1 October and will run until 31 March 2026, although NHSE anticipates that most vaccinations should be completed by the end of November.

The Covid-19 programme will run from October to 31 January 2026. However, the majority of Covid vaccinations should be completed by 19 December, says NHSE.

The start date for adult flu vaccinations aligns to Covid-19 vaccinations to support co-administration of vaccines wherever possible.

Payment for flu and Covid vaccinations will only be made if they are administered from the service commencement date(s), as announced and authorised by the commissioner.

To support preparedness and delivery the National Booking System will be opened for participating sites to post flu and Covid-19 vaccination appointments from 18 August.

It will be open for bookings from the public from 1 September 2025 for vaccination appointments from 1 October 2025. The last available appointment date on NBS will be 31 January 2026 for Covid-19, but will remain open for flu only appointments until 31 March 2026.