WNL ICB has an ambitious target to increase flu vaccination uptake across West and North London in 2026-27 and values your efforts to protect at-risk patients this winter.

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.

Eligibility and timing 2026-27

The 2026-27 flu programme runs from 1 September 2026 (see exact timings for eligible cohorts below) to 31 March 2027, with the majority of child and adult doses aimed by the end of November 2026.

From 1 September 2026:

• pregnant women
• all children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2026
• primary school and secondary school-aged children (from reception to year 11)
• (individuals 17 years and over attending a special education needs (SEN) school and who are in a clinical risk group may also be vaccinated alongside their peers)
• all children in clinical risk groups aged from 6 months to less than 18 years (as defined by the Green Book, Influenza chapter)

From 1 October 2026:

• those aged 65 years and over
• those aged 18 years to under 65 years in clinical risk groups (as defined by the Green Book, Influenza chapter)
• those in long-stay residential care homes
• carers in receipt of carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person
• close contacts of immunocompromised individuals
• frontline workers in a social care setting without an employer-led occupational health scheme, including those working for a registered residential care or nursing home, registered domiciliary care providers, voluntary managed hospice providers and those that are employed by those who receive direct payments (personal budgets), or Personal Health budgets, such as personal assistants.

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).

London’s Big Week 2026

London’s Big Week 2026 will run from 9-16 November 2026 to boost winter vaccination 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.

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.