NHS England has published the Flu and COVID-19 Seasonal Vaccination Programme: Autumn/ Winter 2025/26 letter
This sets out the eligible groups for flu and COVID-19 vaccination in autumn/winter 2025/26, confirms the timing of the campaign (main campaign starting on Wednesday 01 October 2025, with flu vaccinations in children and pregnant women from Monday 01 September 2025), and lays out next steps.
- GP Enhanced Service specification (adults & at-risk)
- GP Enhanced Service specification (childhood)
- Flu Collaboration Agreement
- GP additional guidance on recording flu vaccination events, payments and collaboration
- Community pharmacy Advanced Service specification
Only minor updates have been made from last year’s versions and payment arrangements remain the same.
For further information about this year’s flu programme, please see the annual Flu Letter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Flu vaccinations for practice staff
As in previous years, under the terms of the flu enhanced service, practices are able to provide flu vaccination to their patient-facing staff. Unfortunately, while these will not be eligible for an item of service payment due to an NHSE decision, such vaccinations will be covered under CNSGP.
Flu vaccinations for locum GPs
Locum GPs are also eligible to receive free flu vaccination under the flu enhanced service. While this may be received from their registered practice, under the terms of the ES they do not need to be a registered patient in order to receive the vaccination, and so may receive it from their substantive workplace, if applicable, and vaccinations provided to locum GPs are eligible for an item of service payment, as with other patient cohorts.
Further guidance on this, including how such vaccinations should be recorded, is available on the NHS England website.