Children's Flu Vaccine

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.

• 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.