Key summary
- Those eligible for free NHS flu vaccine include people aged 65 and over, children aged 2-3 years old, at-risk children aged 2 to under 18.
- Those eligible for free Covid vaccine include those aged 75 and over, residents in care homes for older adults and those with weakened immune systems.
- Pharmacy leaders have urged eligible patients to book their vaccinations to protect themselves from potentially serious winter illnesses.
Thousands of pharmacies across England will begin vaccinating millions of patients against flu and Covid-19 from Friday (1), as the autumn vaccination campaign gets under way.
Pharmacy leaders have urged eligible patients to book their vaccinations to protect themselves from potentially serious winter illnesses.
Those eligible for free NHS flu vaccine at a community pharmacy include people aged 65 and over, children aged 2-3 years old, at-risk children aged 2 to under 18 and people in certain clinical risk groups. Pharmacies are also offering free vaccination to those experiencing homelessness.
Pregnant women have been eligible for a flu vaccine since 1 September.
Meanwhile, those eligible for free Covid vaccine include those aged 75 and over, residents in care homes for older adults and those with weakened immune systems because of a health condition or treatment.
Patients should check their eligibility on the NHS website before booking. Many pharmacies also offer private vaccination services for people who are not eligible under the NHS programme.
Pharmacy leaders have hailed the efforts of pharmacists, with 9,400 pharmacies having signed up to deliver flu vaccines, over 90 per cent of all pharmacies in England.
Similarly, 7,200 pharmacies have also signed up to participate in the Covid vaccine programme.
Increase in jabs at pharmacy
More patients are now choosing to be vaccinated by their local pharmacy, and eligible patients can access vaccination through community pharmacy regardless of which GP practice they are registered with.
In 2025/2026 28 per cent of people aged over 65 received their flu vaccine so in a pharmacy, compared with just 8 per cent in 2019/20, according to National Pharmacy Association (NPA) analysis of government figures.
NHS data shows that pharmacies delivered 15 per cent more flu jabs last year compared to the previous campaign, an increase of nearly one million flu vaccinations in the space of just two years.
Pharmacy leaders have urged the NHS to include pharmacies in more campaigns to increase access to vaccines.
This could include using pharmacies to provide a catch-up programme to young people who missed out on their original vaccines.
NPA analysis of uptake data for teenagers for a number of routine vaccines, often provided in schools, found a drop off of around a quarter since the pandemic.
Get vaccinated: Sector leaders
NPA Chair Olivier Picard said: “It’s really important that the millions of people eligible for flu and Covid vaccines come forward for vaccination from today, with 90 per cent of pharmacies offering this service on their high streets.
“Patients should make sure they have carefully checked they are eligible before booking through the NHS website, with eligibility for Covid vaccines being more limited than eligibility for the flu programme. Many pharmacies do offer private jabs for those who want them.
“We’re incredibly proud of the growing role pharmacies are playing in protecting the health of the nation. Pharmacies have vaccinated millions of patients against flu and covid and are becoming the first port of call for a growing number of patients for vaccines.
“Pharmacies are highly accessible and trusted places to be vaccinated in, based on people’s doorsteps.
“The NHS should further utilise this role and commission pharmacies to help in more vaccination campaigns, including tackling a worrying drop off in take-up among school age children since the pandemic.”
Company Chemists’ Association Chief Executive Malcolm Harrison said: “Community pharmacies have become an increasingly important part of the NHS vaccination programme.
"As winter approaches, we urge everyone who is eligible to come forward for their Covid-19 and flu vaccinations. Community pharmacies provide a convenient and accessible option, helping people protect themselves and those around them.
"Pharmacies have shown time and again that they can deliver vaccination programmes at scale in a safe and accessible manner. We want to see the NHS build on this success by making greater use of community pharmacy to improve access to a wider range of vaccinations and help increase uptake.”
Community Pharmacy England Chief Executive Janet Morrison said: “Community pharmacies are at the heart of their local communities helping people to stay healthy, and their role in the NHS vaccination programmes for flu and Covid make it easier for people to protect themselves this winter.
“Vaccination remains one of the best ways to reduce the risk of serious illness and to ease pressure on the NHS. Community pharmacists have long vaccinated adults against flu and can now also vaccinate eligible children, as well as offering booster Covid vaccines for the most vulnerable. We would encourage everyone who is eligible to talk to your local pharmacist today about getting you and your loved ones protected.
“Given the sector’s reach, accessibility and trusted relationships with patients, we believe commissioning of pharmacies to provide further NHS vaccinations would help boost uptake.”
