Millions of people urged to get their flu jab
The NHS is expanding its winter flu programme
Millions of people across the south east are being encouraged to come forward for their flu vaccination.
The vaccine is now available to people aged 65 and over, adults aged 18 to 64 in clinical risk groups, residents of long-stay residential care homes, carers and close contacts of people who are immunocompromised. Frontline health and social care workers are also being encouraged to take up their flu vaccination.
Pregnant women, children aged two and three, school-aged children and children in clinical risk groups have already been offered flu vaccination since 1 September.
This year’s programme builds on strong vaccination delivery across the South East last winter. NHS teams in the region delivered more than 3 million flu vaccinations between 1 September 2025 and 1 March 2026, around 17% of the national total. Overall, the South East delivered the second-highest volume of flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccinations of any NHS region during the 2025/26 programme.
Nationally, UKHSA modelling estimates last season's flu vaccination programme prevented around 100,000 hospitalisations and 7,000 deaths in England. UKHSA also reports that every eligible group achieved uptake equivalent to or higher than the previous season.
For the first time as part of the national programme, people aged 16 and over who are sleeping rough or using homeless hostels or night shelters are now eligible for a free NHS flu vaccination.
NHS teams and partners will work to make vaccination as accessible as possible for people experiencing homelessness, who can face increased risks from flu alongside challenges accessing routine healthcare.
Simon Ferris, Health Protection Consultant and Respiratory Lead at UKHSA South East, said: “Respiratory infections including flu and pneumonia are a leading cause of preventable hospital admissions in people experiencing homelessness and contribute to reduced life expectancy. This commitment to roll out flu vaccines to people using hostels, night-shelters or sleeping rough will give people vital protection and make an important contribution to wider cross-government initiatives to reduce the many health harms caused by homelessness.
“I would urge all those eligible and at higher risk to take up their flu vaccination.”
Caroline Reid, Senior Responsible Officer for the Flu and Covid vaccination programmes for NHSE South East, said: “Last winter, NHS teams across the South East delivered more than 3.26 million flu vaccinations, helping protect millions of people and communities across our region.
“We want to build on that success this year and make it as easy as possible for everyone who is eligible to get protected.
“It is particularly important that, for the first time as part of the national programme, people experiencing homelessness can now receive a free flu vaccination. They can face significant health inequalities and barriers to accessing healthcare, so working with local partners to bring vaccination closer to people is an important step.
“Whether you’re aged 65 or over, have a health condition which puts you at greater risk, are a carer or frontline health or social care worker, I would encourage you to take up the offer when you can and help protect yourself ahead of winter.”
The NHS autumn COVID-19 vaccination programme is also now underway, with vaccination targeted at people at highest risk of serious illness.
This year it is available to adults aged 75 and over, residents in care homes for older adults, and people aged six months and over who are immunosuppressed.
The South East delivered more than 885,000 COVID-19 vaccinations between 1 October 2025 and 31 January 2026, almost one in five of the vaccinations delivered nationally.
People eligible for either vaccination are being encouraged to take up the offer and get protected.