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Children's Flu Vaccine

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Service available from 1 October 2026 You can book ahead now for an appointment on or after that date.
Children's Flu Vaccine
NHS service Children's Flu Vaccine Free on NHS*
  • Assessed by a trained pharmacist
  • Private consultation, about 20 minutes
  • Fully funded by the NHS, no cost to you
  • Book online at a time that suits you
*Eligibility and age criteria apply. We’ll check before you book. Book an appointment

The children's flu vaccine helps protect against flu. It's offered to children aged 2 to 3 years, school-aged children (Reception to Year 11) and children with certain long-term health conditions.

Who should have the children's flu vaccine?

The children's flu vaccine is offered on the NHS every year in autumn or early winter.
It's recommended for:
  • children aged 2 or 3 years
  • children aged 4 years who have not started school yet
  • school-aged children (Reception to Year 11)
  • children aged 6 months to 17 years with certain long-term health conditions
  • If your child is 17 years old and over, and does not have a long-term health condition, they are not eligible for the flu vaccine.

Our pharmacies are able to offer vaccination appointments to:

  • Children who are aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2026 (born between 1 September 2022 and 31 August 2024) 
  • Children aged 4 years who have not started school
  • Children aged from 2 years of age to less than 18 years of age who are clinically at- risk
  • Children and young people aged 16 and 17 years old experiencing homelessness
  • From 1 December 2026 ONLY Primary school and secondary school children, from Reception to Year 11, who missed the opportunity to receive an influenza vaccination from the School Aged Immunisation Service and are not clinically at risk

How the children's flu vaccine is given

The children's flu vaccine is usually given as a quick and painless nasal spray in each nostril.

Most children who are eligible for a flu vaccine can have the nasal spray. Children who cannot have the nasal spray vaccine will get a different flu vaccine, given as an injection into the upper arm or thigh.

Some children with certain long-term health conditions who have not had a flu vaccine before might need to have a 2nd dose 4 weeks later.

Children's Flu Vaccine FAQs

What vaccine is being offered and why?
The live nasal spray flu vaccine, Fluenz, is the vaccine currently used. It offers protection against three strains of the Influenza virus which are anticipated to be circulating in the UK this winter. These strains may be different from previous years, so the WHO recommends annual vaccination.
The vaccine does contain a highly processed form of porcine gelatine, to keep it stable and effective. However, the World Health Organisation and Islamic Organisation for Medical Sciences, advised gelatine derived from impure animals has been sufficiently transformed to make it permissible, for use in medicines, including vaccinations. If you or your child finds the porcine gelatine element of the vaccine unacceptable, your child may be able to receive an alternative vaccine via an injection.
Children may develop a runny or blocked nose, headache, tiredness, and reduced appetite, lasting a few days. The vaccine is absorbed quickly so, even if your child sneezes immediately after having had it, there's no need to worry that it hasn't worked.
The virus in the vaccine is live, but it has been weakened so that it cannot cause the illness in healthy people. The amount of virus shed after vaccination is normally below the levels needed to pass on the infection to others and it does not survive for long outside of the body. Unvaccinated children are not at risk of catching flu from the vaccine, either through being in the same room where flu vaccine has been given, or by being in individual contact with recently vaccinated children. Children who have been vaccinated with the nasal spray should avoid household contact with people who have a severely weakened immune system, for 2 weeks following vaccination (e.g., those who are receiving chemotherapy).
Most children in the eligibility group can receive the nasal flu vaccine, but there are some exceptions, if they: - are currently wheezy or have been wheezy in the past three days (vaccination should be delayed until at least three days after the wheezing has stopped) - are severely asthmatic who have previously required intensive care or are currently (or within the last 14 days) being treated with oral steroids - have a condition that severely weakens their immune system, for example following a bone marrow transplant - have someone in their household severely immunocompromised who needs isolation - have had severe anaphylaxis to egg allergy requiring intensive care treatment - have had severe anaphylaxis to any other components of the vaccine - are receiving Salicylate therapies (other than topical treatment for localized conditions)
Repeat prescriptions Nominate us and collect your NHS or private prescriptions at your local store.
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