NCL ICB has an ambitious target to increase flu vaccination uptake across North Central London in 2025-26 and values your efforts to protect at-risk patients this winter.

The ICB has put together practical resources to support awareness and uptake, including a communications toolkit (ready-to-use social posts, SMS/key messages for call/recall, cohort-specific and translated posters, and patient leaflets, available in 30+ languages).

NHSE and UKHSA expect providers to proactively invite all eligible patients and maintain robust call/recall. Please ensure that the activity is coded accurately so uptake is reflected in ImmForm returns.

Programme timing 2025-26

• From 1 September 2025, pregnant women and all children’s flu cohorts (with school delivery for school-aged pupils).
• From 1 October 2025, all other adult flu cohorts.
• Flu programme runs to 31 March 2026, with the majority of child and adult doses aimed by the end of November 2025.
• COVID-19 autumn programme 1 October 2025 to 31 January 2026; the majority of COVID-19 vaccinations should be completed by 19 December 2025.

Eligible groups for an NHS flu vaccine in 2025-26

• 65 years and over
• six months to under 65 years in clinical risk group (see green book chapter 19)
• pregnant women
• all children aged two-three on 31 August 2025; primary and secondary school-aged children (school vaccination service)
• long-stay residential care residents
• carers (in receipt of allowance or main carers)
• close contacts of immunosuppressed individuals 
• frontline health and social care workers (via employers or as locally arranged)

There remains a need to focus on immunising two and three-year-olds and ensuring practice staff are vaccinated; where staff are vaccinated elsewhere, include this in ImmForm submissions so coverage is accurately reflected (local operational good practice).

Flu 2025-26 resources in other languages

• Flu vaccination for children: leaflets and posters. Protect your child against flu leaflet is available in 34 languages, plus as audio, braille and large print.

Vaccination Big Week 2025

A national Vaccination Big Week campaign will run from 22-29 November 2025 to boost uptake and help protect communities this winter. The campaign focuses on increasing access and awareness across key seasonal vaccination programmes, including flu, COVID-19, and RSV, and will build on ongoing local Winter Wellness efforts. National invitations will be sent to eligible individuals who have not yet been vaccinated, and further guidance from NHSE will follow shortly.

During this week, providers across the system, including GP practices, PCNs, community pharmacies, and Trusts, are encouraged to maximise access to vaccination, engage local communities, and ensure accurate data recording. This may include extending clinic hours, offering walk-in or same-day appointments, using outreach in underserved areas, and sharing campaign messages through local networks and social media. Providers are also encouraged to promote vaccination to frontline staff. Your continued support is essential to ensure that eligible people can easily access the protection they need this winter.