Vaccine update: issue 370, March 2026
Published 16 April 2026
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2026
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vaccine-update-issue-370-march-2026/vaccine-update-issue-370-march-2026
Human Medicines Regulations are changing
A number of changes to Human Medicines Regulations relating to vaccinations are due to come into effect from 1 April 2026.
These include changes to:
- Regulation 3A – vaccine preparation
- Regulation 19 – vaccine handling and supply
- Regulation 233 – off site vaccination by community pharmacies
- Regulation 235A – introducing the new Vaccine Group Direction (VGD)
- Schedule 17 – vaccination by occupational health services (OHS)
To support vaccinators understanding of these new and updated regulations, NHS Specialist Pharmacy Services (SPS) have published a webpage on the use of Vaccine Group Directions (VGDs) and a video on all changes to Human Medicines Regulations including VGDs:
- understanding Vaccine Group Directions (VGDs)
- amendments to Human Medicines Regulations 2012 supporting vaccine supply and deployment
The Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccination programme
The aim of the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccination programme is to reduce the incidence and severity of RSV disease, and hospitalisation as a result of RSV disease in infants and eligible older adults.
All adults turning 75 years of age on or after 1 September 2024 (born on or after 1 September 1949) should be offered RSV vaccination on or shortly after their 75th birthday. From April 2026, the RSV vaccination programme will be expanded to include adults living in an older adult care home and individuals aged 80 years and older.
All pregnant women should be offered the RSV vaccination from week 28 of their pregnancy.
These are year-round, ongoing programmes.
Training on the guidance is available
- RSV vaccination of pregnant women for infant protection: information for healthcare practitioners
- RSV vaccination of older adults: information for healthcare practitioners
- download the RSV vaccination of pregnant women for infant protection: information for healthcare practitioners training slideset
- download the RSV vaccination for older adults: information for healthcare practitioners training slideset
Patient facing materials
A guide to the RSV vaccine for older adults
This guide explains:
- what respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is and how you get it
- how the vaccine works to protect older adults from RSV
- when and how to get the vaccine
The RSV vaccination leaflet and poster are suitable for all RSV vaccination settings including GP practices. Printed copies of this leaflet can be ordered free of charge from Find Public Health Resources using product code: 1387447AEN001.
RSV vaccination for older adults poster
Printed copies of this poster for the RSV for older adults programme can be ordered free of charge from Find Public Health Resources using product code: 1387447BEN001.
Green Book updates
Respiratory syncytial virus
Updated with latest evidence and details of the catch-up programme for people age 80 and over, JCVI advice on clesrovimab and MHRA guidance on preF vaccines.
Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib)
Updated to include the latest epidemiological data and align with current guidance on vaccination for case contacts and in outbreak scenarios.
Hepatitis B
Updates to eligibility for targeted vaccination of people at higher risk of exposure.
Measles
14 April 2026: Updated wording on the routine vaccination schedule across MMRV Green Book chapters. 23 January 2026: Updated to align wording to other Green Book chapters. 3 December 2025: This chapter has been updated to include the introduction of the MMRV vaccine from 1 January 2026.
Mumps
14 April 2026: Updated wording on the routine vaccination schedule across MMRV Green Book chapters. 19 January 2026: Revised to include the MMRV vaccine.
Varicella
14 April 2026: Updated wording on the routine vaccination schedule across MMRV Green Book chapters. 15 January 2026: Updated to align wording in ‘administration with blood products’ section to other Green Book chapters.
Rubella
31 December 2025: This chapter has been updated to include the introduction of the MMRV vaccine from 1 January 2026. 14 April 2026: Updated wording on the routine vaccination schedule across MMRV Green Book chapters.
Keeping ImmForm accounts up to date
This is a reminder to all ImmForm account holders that the ImmForm Helpdesk regularly sends out email requests for organisations to revalidate their account information if it hasn’t been reviewed recently. Do not ignore these emails.
UKHSA has a legal obligation to ensure that medicinal products are only supplied to organisations that are authorised to receive them, and this requires all accounts to be revalidated periodically.
This is covered by the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 legislation and UKHSA’s Wholesale Distribution Authorisation [WDA(H)].
Be aware in the worst cases, if an organisation repeatedly fails to engage with UKHSA over their revalidation, UKHSA may be required to suspend their ImmForm ordering capability until this is resolved.
Manage the ImmForm order related emails you receive
Log into the ImmForm system and click on your name/email address in the top right corner of the first screen. Then select “My Details” and when your Personal Details page is displayed select “My Alerts”.
Although you will always receive an email confirming an order you have personally raised, the “My Alerts” page allows you to manage the other emails sent out by the ImmForm system:
- emails for online orders raised by your colleagues
- confirming an order has been despatched
- notifying you if the scheduled delivery date has changed
- confirmation if you cancelled an order over the telephone (with the ImmForm Helpdesk)
- confirming an order has been delivered
You can also manage emails for reported Stock Incidents and when an Account Allocation has been increased.
Try to avoid using email rules to manage the ImmForm emails you receive, as this will stop you from receiving important communications sent out by the ImmForm Helpdesk.
See all the ImmForm products available for your organisation to order on one page
On your ImmForm Ordering page if you tick the “Show All Brands” check box, in the top left-hand corner of the screen, this will allow you to scroll down all the products you can order without having to switch pages at the bottom of the screen. This should make it easier and quicker to raise orders and will ensure you don’t miss any products as part of your order if you don’t click on all the available product pages.
Vaccine supply: routine vaccination programme
Change from a single to a 10-dose pack of Rotarix vaccine
The pack size of Rotarix vaccine supplied by UKHSA has changed from a single-dose to a 10-dose pack. The vaccine inside remains unchanged.
The 10-dose pack of Rotarix® vaccine supplied by UKHSA will contain 10 single-dose squeezable tubes (10 x 1.5 ml) of vaccine and one patient information leaflet (PIL). Each 10-dose pack of Rotarix® vaccine supplied by UKHSA will be delivered with a pad of 10 additional PILs.
A high-level ordering control is in place to reduce the risk of ordering errors only. This is not intended to restrict activity. Further details about Rotarix® vaccine can be found in the SmPC.
To help with planning storage requirements:
- the dimensions of each larger 10-dose pack of Rotarix® vaccine are 127 x 160 x 20 mm (H x W x D)
To minimise wastage due to fridge failures, order no more than 2 to 4 weeks’ worth of stock. Further guidance can be found in the Green Book: chapter 3.
ImmForm customers can contact helpdesk@immform.org.uk for ordering queries.
Non-ImmForm customers should refer to their local ordering guidance.
Change of vaccine for the routine adult pneumococcal vaccination programme and individuals at increased clinical risk
Since early 2026, the vaccine used for the routine 65 years and over pneumococcal vaccination programme and for those aged 2 years and above in clinical risk groups for pneumococcal disease other than those listed below, has changed from Pneumovax® 23 (PPV23) to Prevenar 20® (PCV20).
Continue to administer Pneumovax® 23 (PPV23) until your local stockholdings deplete.
Prevenar 20® (PCV20) is now available to order for:
- those aged 2 years and above with severe immunosuppression (changed from PPV23)
- children aged less than 2 years of age with asplenia, splenic dysfunction, complement disorder or severe immunosuppression (changed from PCV13)
Prevenar 13® (PCV13) remains the vaccine for the routine childhood pneumococcal vaccination programme and should continue to be offered to all children at 16 weeks and one year of age.
Details about the pneumococcal vaccination programme are published in the Green Book: Pneumococcal chapter.
Details about the change in vaccine can be found at Change of vaccine for the routine adult pneumococcal vaccination programme and individuals at increased clinical risk
Prevenar 20® vaccine has been supplied by UKHSA since early 2026. High-level ordering controls are in place to reduce the risk of ordering errors only. These are not intended to restrict activity.
The 10-dose pack of Prevenar 20® vaccine supplied by UKHSA contains 10 pre-filled syringes and 10 patient information leaflets (PILs). Unlike with Pneumovax® 23, the pack does not contain any needles for administration. Guidance on the choice of needle size can be found in the Green Book: chapter 4. Needles and syringes should be obtained locally. Further details about Prevenar 20® vaccine can be found in the SmPC.
To help with planning storage requirements:
- the dimensions of each 10-dose pack of Prevenar 20® vaccine are 99 x 62 x 123 mm (H x W x D)
Add Prevenar 20® to your routine ImmForm order where possible, rather than creating additional orders.
To minimise wastage due to fridge failures, order no more than 2 to 4 weeks’ worth of stock. Further guidance can be found in the Green Book: chapter 3.
ImmForm customers can contact helpdesk@immform.org.uk for ordering queries.
Non-ImmForm customers should refer to their local ordering guidance.
Introduction of a combined measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine
Since 1 January 2026, the NHS routine childhood vaccination programme includes a combined measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine. Details about the introduction of MMRV vaccination can be found at Introduction of a routine varicella (MMRV) vaccination programme.
The current MMR vaccines (M‑M‑RvaxPro® and Priorix®) will continue to be supplied by UKHSA for administration outside of the routine childhood programme, for example for vaccination of older individuals born on or before 31 December 2019, who have not received 2 doses of MMR and are not eligible for MMRV.
ProQuad® and Priorix-Tetra® are the vaccines used for the MMRV programme and are now supplied by UKHSA.
ProQuad® vaccine should be ordered for all MMRV vaccinations, unless a patient requires a porcine gelatine-free MMRV vaccine. ImmForm customers in England and Wales may currently order ProQuad® vaccine with only a high-level ordering control in place to reduce the risk of ordering errors only. This is not intended to restrict activity. Additional ordering controls may be put in place to enable UKHSA to balance incoming deliveries and outgoing orders.
In addition, ImmForm customers in England and Wales may order up to 10 porcine gelatine-free Priorix-Tetra® doses per account per week. Note there are 10 Priorix-Tetra® doses in each vaccine pack ordered via ImmForm.
Customers in Scotland and Northern Ireland should refer to local ordering guidance.
The single-dose pack of ProQuad® vaccine supplied by UKHSA contains one pre-filled syringe, one vial of solvent for reconstitution, one patient information leaflet, and 2 unattached non-safety needles. One needle should be used for reconstitution and a separate, new needle for injection. Further details about ProQuad® vaccine can be found in the SmPC.
The 10-dose pack of Priorix-Tetra® vaccine supplied by UKHSA contains 10 single-dose vials of vaccine powder (covered by a flap in the box), 10 pre-filled syringes of diluent and one patient information leaflet. Vaccines need to be reconstituted prior to use. Each 10-dose pack of Priorix-Tetra® vaccine supplied by UKHSA will be delivered with a pad of 10 additional PILs. Packs of Priorix-Tetra® vaccine do not contain needles for administration.
Further details about Priorix-Tetra® vaccine can be found in the SmPC.
Guidance on the choice of needle size can be found in the Green Book: chapter 4. Needles should be obtained locally.
To help with planning storage requirements:
- the dimensions of each single-dose pack of ProQuad® vaccine are 150 x 47 x 28 mm (H x W x D)
- the dimensions of each larger 10-dose pack of Priorix-Tetra® vaccine are 142 x 178 x 29 mm (H x W x D)
To minimise wastage due to fridge failures, order no more than 2 to 4 weeks’ worth of stock. Further guidance can be found in the Green Book: chapter 3.
ImmForm customers can contact helpdesk@immform.org.uk for ordering queries.
Non-ImmForm customers should refer to their local ordering guidance.
Menitorix vaccine is no longer supplied by UKHSA
Following changes to the routine immunisation schedule, children in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland who turned 12 months old:
- on or before 30 June 2025, should continue to be offered Menitorix® vaccine until your local stockholdings of Menitorix® vaccine deplete, after which a hexavalent DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB (6-in-1) vaccine should be offered to provide a 12-month Hib dose
- on or after 1 July 2025, should not be offered a 12-month Menitorix® vaccine. They should instead be offered a hexavalent vaccine at a new routine 18-month appointment from 1 January 2026
Menitorix® vaccine is no longer offered to any children in Wales. Health Boards in Wales should ensure that any remaining stock of Menitorix® vaccine is safely disposed of in accordance with local waste disposal procedures. All such wastage should also be recorded on ImmForm. Details of the changes to the routine immunisation schedule are available at Complete routine immunisation schedule from 1 January 2026
Vaccines for the 2025 to 2026 children’s flu programme supplied by UKHSA
All flu ordering is now closed.
Ordering of LAIV vaccine for the children’s flu programme closed on Thursday 12 March and ordering for the Inactivated IIVc vaccine closed on Friday 27 March.
Final deliveries of LAIV (Fluenz®) took place on Monday 16 March. Any orders placed on or before Thursday 12th March but scheduled for delivery after Monday 16 March will have been cancelled.
Final deliveries of the inactivated IIVc vaccine took place on Tuesday 31 March.
Any orders placed on or before Friday 27 March but scheduled for delivery after Tuesday 31 March will have been cancelled.
The latest and most accurate information will be available on the ImmForm news page at all times, so check back regularly.
Expiry dates for all batches of Fluenz® issued for the 2025 to 2026 children’s flu programme
Batch numbers and associated expiry dates of all batches of Fluenz® that either have or will be issued this season are set out in the table below. Ensure that the expiry date is always checked before use, and that expired stock is disposed of in line with local policies. Any disposed stock should be recorded through the ImmForm stock incident page.
| Batch number | Expiry date |
|---|---|
| YF2962 | 9 December 2025 |
| YF2962B | 9 December 2025 |
| YF2965 | 10 December 2025 |
| YF2965B | 10 December 2025 |
| YF2963 | 15 December 2025 |
| YF3265 | 15 December 2025 |
| YF3265B | 15 December 2025 |
| YF2964 | 16 December 2025 |
| YF3276 | 16 December 2025 |
| YH2667 | 22 December 2025 |
| YH2667B | 22 December 2025 |
| YF3414 | 29 December 2025 |
| YF3414B | 29 December 2025 |
| YK2680 | 5 January 2026 |
| YK2680B | 5 January 2026 |
| YK2763 | 6 January 2026 |
| YK2682 | 12 January 2026 |
| YK2682B | 12 January 2026 |
| YK2998 | 19 January 2026 |
| YL2477 | 2 February 2026 |
| YL2477B | 2 February 2026 |
| YM2013B | 9 February 2026 |
| YL2672 | 16 February 2026 |
| YL2672B | 16 February 2026 |
| YM2014 | 23 February 2026 |
| YL2671 | 2 March 2026 |
| YL2671B | 30 March 2026 |
Providing a second dose of flu vaccine after all Fluenz® has expired
If you still need to give a second dose of flu vaccine 4 weeks after the first dose (for example, for children in clinical risk groups aged 2 to under 9 years who have not received influenza vaccine before), then it is safe and effective to give inactivated vaccine as a second dose where Fluenz® is no longer available.
All IIVc vaccine will expire on 31 May 2026.
Place orders only for delivery on days when your site is open
ImmForm customers should place orders only for delivery on days when their site is open and able to accept the delivery. Non-ImmForm customers should refer to their local ordering guidance.
Delivery failures because of a site being closed, create additional, unnecessary workload within the distribution network.
ImmForm customers can use the deferred order function to place orders for future dates when a site is open. In the case of a one-off closure, ImmForm customers should immediately re-schedule the delivery date of orders due for delivery on that day.
For long-term changes to the days when a site can accept deliveries, ImmForm customers should contact their Movianto Customer Care team with details. Contact details are included on each Movianto Delivery Note. Short-term changes to delivery days cannot be made, for example, for absence or holidays.
Vaccine supply: non-routine vaccine supply
Hepatitis A vaccine
Adult
GSK: supply of Havrix Adult PFS singles and packs of 10 are currently available.
Sanofi : Avaxim PFS singles are currently available. Avaxim packs of 10 are currently available.
MSD: VAQTA Adult is available.
Paediatric
GSK: supply of Havrix Paediatric singles and packs of 10 are currently available.
MSD: VAQTA Paediatric is available.
Sanofi Pasteur: Avaxim Junior singles are currently available.
Hepatitis B vaccine
Adult
GSK: Engerix B PFS singles and packs of 10 are currently available.
GSK: supply of Fendrix is currently available.
MSD: HBVAXPRO 10μg is available.
MSD: HBVAXPRO 40μg is available.
Valneva: PreHevbri is no longer marketed in the UK.
Paediatric
GSK: supplies of Engerix B Paediatric singles are currently available.
MSD: HBVAXPRO 5μg is available.
Combined hepatitis A and B vaccine
GSK: Twinrix Adult singles and packs of 10 are available.
GSK: Twinrix Paediatric is currently available.
GSK: Ambirix is available.
Combined hepatitis A and typhoid vaccine
Sanofi: Viatim is now a discontinued product and no longer available for sale.
Typhoid vaccine
Bavarian Nordic: Vivotif is available.
Sanofi: Typhim singles and packs of 10 are available.
Rabies vaccine
Bavarian Nordic: Rabipur is available with restricted supply until early April
Sanofi: Verorab is available to order with some restrictions – capped at 50 doses per month for wholesalers
Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV)
MSD: Private supply of Pneumovax 23 (PPV23) PFS discontinued from November 2025
Pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine (PCV)
Pfizer: Prevenar 13 is currently available.
Pfizer: Prevenar 20 is currently available.
MSD: Vaxneuvance is currently available.
MSD: Capvaxive®▼ is currently available
Varicella zoster vaccine
GSK: VARILRIX is currently available.
MSD: VARIVAX is available.
MSD: ZOSTAVAX is a discontinued product.
Diphtheria, tetanus and poliomyelitis (inactivated) vaccine
Sanofi: Revaxis is available.
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (acellular) and poliomyelitis (inactivated) vaccine
GSK: supply of Boostrix-IPV is currently available.
Sanofi: Repevax is currently available.
MMR vaccine
MSD: MMR VaxPro is currently available.
GSK: Priorix is currently available.
Meningitis ACWY vaccine
GSK: Menveo is currently available.
Pfizer: Nimenrix is currently available.
Sanofi: MenQuadfi is available.
Yellow fever vaccine
Sanofi: Stamaril is available to order without restrictions
Human papillomavirus vaccine
MSD: Gardasil 9 is currently available.
GSK: Cervarix has been discontinued.
Cholera vaccine
Bavarian Nordic: Vaxchora is available.
Valneva: Dukoral is available.
Japanese encephalytis vaccine
Valneva: Ixiaro is available.
Meningococcal group B vaccine
GSK: Bexsero is currently available.
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Hib vaccine and poliomyelitis
GSK: Infanrix IPV+Hib is currently available.
Hib + meningococcal group C combined vaccine
GSK: Menitorix is currently available.
Live attenuated rotavirus vaccine
GSK: Rotarix is currently available.
Herpes zoster vaccine
GSK: Supply of Shingrix is constrained at the moment and working on the resupply – currently still stock in the wholesaler.
Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis
Sanofi: Adacel is currently available
Dengue tetravalent vaccine
Takeda: Qdenga is currently available.
Respiratory syncytial virus vaccine
Pfizer: Abrysvo is currently available.
GSK: Arevxy is currently available.
Chikungunya vaccine
Valneva: IXCHIQ®▼ is available. Read the important MHRA Drug Safety update on IXCHIQ® powder and solvent for solution for injection Chikungunya vaccine (live).
Bavarian Nordic: Vimkunya®▼ is available.