Recommended adult influenza vaccines
There have been 2 changes to the JCVI advice for adult flu vaccines for 2026 to 2027:
- in those aged 50 years to 59 years in clinical risk groups, IIV-HD can be used off-label
- in those aged 65 years and older, IIVc (cell-cultured) should be considered equivalent to allV (adjuvanted), llV-HD (high-dose) and IIVr (recombinant)
Table 1. Preferred adult influenza vaccines that will be reimbursed
| Aged 18 to 49 years in clinical risk group (including pregnant women) | Aged 50 to 64 years (in a clinical risk group) | Aged 65 years and over |
|---|---|---|
| All vaccines are listed alphabetically. | All vaccines are listed alphabetically. | All vaccines are listed alphabetically. |
| Order any of these vaccines: | Order any of these vaccines: | Order any of these vaccines: |
| • cell-cultured (IIVc) • or recombinant (IIVr) | • adjuvanted (aIIV) • or cell-cultured (IIVc) • or high dose (IIV-HD) (licensed from 60 years of age but can be given off label to those aged 50 to 59 years) • or recombinant (IIVr) | • adjuvanted (aIIV) • or cell-cultured (IIVc) • or high dose (IIV-HD) • or recombinant (IIVr) |
| Note: In those aged 65 years and over, IIVe is not advised by JCVI and will not be reimbursed for use. |
The national flu immunisation programme 2026 to 2027 letter advises that:
‘[…]
contractual requirements for all commissioned NHS flu vaccination providers states that to receive payment for flu vaccination and reimbursement of flu vaccine, they will need to use the JCVI preferred vaccines outlined in Table 1 for the appropriate cohort and administer vaccines in line with the announced and authorised cohorts. In addition, vaccines need to be offered and (ideally) administered at the correct time for each cohort. Please note that commissioners will actively recover any payments made if the incorrect vaccine is administered or if the correct vaccine is administered too early.
With the exception of frontline workers in certain social care settings, the vaccination of all other frontline health care staff (for example, those working in NHS trusts, primary care organisations or private sector health care organisations) will not qualify for payment or reimbursement. Frontline health and social care workers should be offered vaccines according to the age groups set out in Table 1 and in the Recommended adult vaccines for reimbursement section.
[…]’
Recommended children’s vaccines
No changes were recommended by JCVI for children’s flu vaccines for 2026 to 2027 and all vaccines available are trivalent.
Table 2. Recommended flu vaccines for children
| Children aged 6 months to less than 2 years in clinical risk groups | Children aged 2 to less than 18 years in eligible groups (including clinical risk groups) |
|---|---|
| Offer in the following order of preference: | Offer in the following order of preference: |
| 1. IIVc 2. IIVe | 1. LAIV (live attenuated inactivated influenza vaccine) 2. IIVc is recommended where LAIV is contraindicated or otherwise unsuitable (for example, parents object to LAIV on the grounds of its porcine gelatine content) 3. IIVe |
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) supplies all flu vaccines for the children’s programme and these will be available to order through ImmForm and are therefore not reimbursable. The latest information on ordering controls and other ordering advice for UKHSA-supplied flu vaccines will be featured on the ImmForm news page, both prior to and during the flu vaccination period. All parties involved in the provision of flu vaccines to children should ensure they remain up to date with this information at all times.