NHS urges families to use October half-term for flu jabs as England passes 10.2 million vaccinations
Drop-in and bookable clinics are running across the North East and Yorkshire this week for children who missed their vaccine at school.
Families are being asked to use this week's October half-term to get children and other eligible relatives vaccinated against flu, as the NHS reported that 10.2 million flu vaccinations have now been given across England this season.
The reminder came from NHS England's North East and Yorkshire region, where 1.6 million people have had the jab so far. The region has arranged a series of half-term clinics aimed mainly at school-age children who were absent or missed out when vaccination teams visited their school.
NHS England said every winter thousands of otherwise healthy children need hospital care because of flu. Children also pass the virus on easily, so vaccinating them helps protect people who are more at risk, including babies, pregnant women and older relatives.
Who can get a free flu vaccine
For children, the free vaccine is offered to:
- children aged two or three on 31 August 2026
- four-year-olds who have not yet started school
- school-age children from reception to year 11
- children aged six months to 17 years with certain long-term health conditions
Most school-age children are vaccinated at school. Parents of two- and three-year-olds, and of children in a clinical risk group, can arrange the vaccine through their GP practice or other NHS services. Most children are given the vaccine as a nasal spray rather than an injection.
Adults who qualify include people aged 65 and over, those with certain long-term health conditions, care home residents, carers, close contacts of people with weakened immune systems, people experiencing homelessness, and frontline health and social care workers.
Half-term clinics
Clinics in the region this week include:
- Wakefield: family hub sessions every weekday, starting at Sunbeam Family Hub on Monday 26 October.
- Calderdale: Brighouse Health Centre on Monday 26 October.
- Bradford: a drop-in at Whetley Practice on Wednesday 28 October and at Keighley Family Hub on Thursday 29 October.
- Hartlepool: drop-in clinics at the Highlight Wellbeing Hub and Rossmere Family Hub on Thursday 29 October.
- Newcastle and North Tyneside: appointment-only clinics on Friday 30 October.
Parents should check the NHS England regional page for exact times, addresses and booking numbers, as some sessions are by appointment only.
How to book elsewhere
Anywhere in England, eligible adults can book a flu vaccine through the NHS online booking service or the NHS App, or find a local pharmacy offering free jabs on the NHS website. Parents of younger children should contact their GP practice.
NHS England said half-term was a good opportunity for families to make sure they were protected before winter, and urged anyone eligible not to put it off.
