# Flu jab catch-up for pupils at pharmacies

> “In a further effort to see more kids vaccinated against the flu, later this year the government will launch the first ever ‘catch-up’ programme from community pharmacies for school children who missed their vaccinations earlier in the year.”
>
> — HM Government; Press release (Department of Health and Social Care), 22 October 2026

- **Status:** Promised
- **Status ladder:** Promised → In plan → Legislated → Funded → Delivering → Delivered
- **Policy area:** [Health](https://ledgergov.uk/promises/area/health)
- **Speaker:** [HM Government](https://ledgergov.uk/actor/hm-government)
- **Made on:** 22 October 2026
- **Where:** Press release (Department of Health and Social Care)
- **Deadline:** 1 December 2026
- **Cost a year:** No costing published
- **Who it affects:** School-age children in England who missed their flu vaccination at school
- **When:** From 1 December 2026
- **Paid for by:** Not stated when it was announced
- **Quote source:** https://www.gov.uk/government/news/social-media-campaign-urges-brits-to-get-vaccinated-for-winter (checked word for word at its source on 25 October 2026; Open Government Licence v3.0)
- **Last updated:** 25 October 2026
- **Card:** https://ledgergov.uk/promise/uk-flu-pharmacy-catch-up-2026

## Where it stands

The release says school vaccination teams have been asked to visit every school by the end of November, and that the school-age catch-up at pharmacies starts on 1 December. It gives no cost and no figure for how many children it should reach. The card moves when the catch-up programme opens at community pharmacies.

## Timeline

- 22 October 2026, Promised: The government says it will launch the first catch-up flu vaccination programme for schoolchildren at community pharmacies later this year
- 1 December 2026, Deadline (to come): School-age flu catch-up at pharmacies due to start on 1 December 2026

## About the cost

No cost has been published.

## Sources

- [Department of Health and Social Care press release, 22 Oct 2026: Social media campaign urges Brits to get vaccinated for winter](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/social-media-campaign-urges-brits-to-get-vaccinated-for-winter)

## Checks

- Checked automatically by AI Journalist, not yet verified by an editor.
- Checked by AI Journalist (automated) on 25 October 2026.

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