Flu National Booking System now open - winter toolkit and supporting resources available
The NHS National Booking System (NBS) is now open, ahead of this year's flu vaccination programme launching on 1 September.
Pregnant women, and children aged 2 and 3 years old (on 31 August 2026), and children in a clinical risk group aged from 6 months to 17 years can book now for vaccinations that will begin from 1 September.
All other eligible cohorts – including people aged 65 and over, adults with certain long-term health conditions, care home residents, carers, people who are immunocompromised or their close contacts – can book now and select an appointment date and time from 1 October.
People can book via the NHS App, online at www.nhs.uk/bookflu, or by calling 119 if they cannot get online.
There is further information on eligibility on the NHS website on the adult flu vaccine page, and the children’s flu vaccine page.
Primary and secondary school-aged children (from reception to year 11) will be offered the free nasal spray flu vaccine (or alternative) directly through their school by the School Age Immunisation Service, with parents and carers asked to complete and return a consent form, usually during the autumn term. Children who miss their school session, or who are home educated, can be offered the vaccine at a community clinic.
Winter toolkit and supporting resources now available
To support the delivery of the vaccination programme, the UK Health Security Agency and NHS England winter vaccinations stakeholder toolkit for 2026/27 is now available on the Campaign Resource Centre. It contains key messages, statistics, FAQs, resource links, and social media assets to support flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccine promotion, along with guidance on ordering leaflets and posters.
A range of new and updated assets are also available to help explain eligibility for each vaccine, and there is a dedicated toolkit to encourage frontline healthcare workers to get vaccinated.
How you can help
We would be grateful for your support in promoting the vaccination offer and encouraging early booking among your networks, particularly for pregnant women, families with young children, and other eligible groups. This could include:
Sharing information from the toolkit with your networks, including social media assets, leaflets and posters (many available in accessible and translated formats).
Sharing information about the flu vaccine on your own social media channels (supporting assets available on the Campaign Resource Centre).
Featuring the toolkit and NBS opening in your own newsletters or bulletins (suggested wording below).
Letting us know if you would find bespoke support helpful, such as tailored text for a blog or article, or a spokesperson for a webinar or briefing.
Getting in touch if you know of anyone willing to share a case study about their experience of being unwell/hospitalised with flu, or another vaccine-preventable disease.