Flu vaccines for the 2026 to 2027 season
Updated 3 September 2026
Applies to England
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/flu-vaccines-for-the-current-season/flu-vaccines-for-the-2023-to-2024-season
Flu vaccines
Table 1. Flu vaccines available for the 2026 to 2027 season
| Vaccine | Manufacturer | Licensed from age |
|---|---|---|
| Cell-based trivalent influenza vaccine (IIVc), egg free | CSL Seqirus | 6 months of age |
| Vaxigrip, (IIVe) | Sanofi | 6 months of age |
| Influenza vaccine TIV MYL, (IIVe) | Viatris | 6 months of age |
| Fluenz (LAIV) | AstraZeneca | 2 years to less than 18 years of age |
| Supemtek TIVr (IIVr), egg free | Sanofi | 18 years of age |
| Adjuvanted trivalent influenza vaccine (aIIV) | CSL Seqirus | 50 years of age |
| Efluelda TIV-HD (IIV-HD) | Sanofi | 60 years of age |
Eligible groups
Eligible groups for the 2026 to 2027 season:
- aged 2 and 3 years on 31 August 2026
- eligible school-aged children (Reception to Year 11)
- those aged 6 months to under 65 years in clinical risk groups
- pregnant women
- all those aged 65 years and over
- those in long-stay residential care homes
- carers in receipt of carer’s allowance or main carer of an older or disabled person
- household contacts of immunocompromised individuals
- frontline health and social care staff
- people experiencing homelessness (defined as “rough sleepers and those using homeless hostels or night-shelters, rather than the broader definitions of homelessness”), aged 16 years and over
See the Green Book Influenza chapter 19 for full details on eligible groups.
Age group and vaccine type
6 months to less than 2 years in a clinical risk group or household contact of an immunocompromised individual
Give IIVc (Cell-cultured inactivated influenza vaccine) [note 1].
If IIVc is not available give IIVe (egg-cultured inactivated influenza vaccine) [note 2].
Note 1: IIVc and LAIV for eligible children available to order from ImmForm by general practice and school-age providers. Community pharmacies should see arrangements in the flu letter amendment.
Note 2: IIVe is not supplied by ImmForm.
2 years to less than 18 years in eligible year groups or in a clinical risk group or household contact of an immunocompromised individual
If there are no contraindications to LAIV (live attenuated influenza vaccine, nasal spray suspension) [note 1], give LAIV nasal spray suspension.
If LAIV is contraindicated or otherwise unsuitable [note 3], give IIVc [note 1].
If IIVc is not available give IIVe [note 2].
Note 1: IIVc and LAIV for eligible children available to order from ImmForm by general practice and school-age providers. Community pharmacies should see arrangements in the flu letter amendment.
Note 2: IIVe is not supplied by ImmForm.
Note 3: If the parent of an eligible child declines LAIV because of its porcine gelatine content they can request an alternative injectable vaccine. For these children IIVc is available to order from ImmForm by general practice and school-age providers.
18 years to 49 years in a clinical risk group or household contact of an immunocompromised individual, or a person experiencing homelessness and pregnant women [note 7]
Give the following vaccines:
- IIVc
- IIVr (recombinant inactivated influenza vaccine)
If the above vaccines are not available give IIVe.
50 year to 64 years in a clinical risk group [note 4]
- aIIV (adjuvanted inactivated influenza vaccine) [note 5]
- IIVc [note 7]
- IIV-HD (high-dose inactivated influenza vaccine) [note 6]
- IIVr (recombinant inactivated influenza vaccine) [note 7]
If the above vaccines are not available give IIVe.
Note 4: Or household contact of an immunocompromised individual. Or a person experiencing homelessness.
Note 5: aIIV is not to be used in women who are pregnant or breast-feeding.
Note 6: Licensed for individuals aged 60 years and over, can be given off label to those aged 50 to 59 years.
Note 7: Although this vaccine can be used for those aged 50 years and over, the priority is to use it in younger adults to preserve supplies. There are alternative preferred vaccines that can only be given to older adults.
65 years and over
- aIIV
- IIVc [note 7]
- IIV-HD [note 6]
- IIVr [note 7]
Note 6: Licensed for individuals aged 60 years and over, can be given off label to those aged 50 to 59 years.
Note 7: Although this vaccine can be used for those aged 50 years and over, the priority is to use it in younger adults to preserve supplies. There are alternative preferred vaccines that can only be given to older adults.
Resources
Further information is available in the Green Book Influenza chapter 19.
Resources for the current flu vaccination programme are available to download or order.
A PDF poster version of this guide, showing the packaging of the different types of flu vaccines, is available download.
Note that IIVx is used on this resource to denote all inactivated influenza vaccines. In the boxes denoting the images of the vaccine packaging, the manufacturers name of the vaccine is given, which in some cases includes ‘TIV’ or ‘trivalent’.
All vaccines used for the 2026 to 2027 season are trivalent.
Note that all preferred vaccines are listed alphabetically.