Flu and COVID-19 Vaccines 2026/27: Who Qualifies, What to Expect and How to Book

Every October the same questions start coming across the counter. Am I due a flu vaccine this year? Do I need the COVID one as well? Is it free for me? Can my kids get it here? Can I get both on the same day?

The HSE's autumn and winter vaccine programme for 2026/27 started at the beginning of October, so this is the right time to get answers. This guide covers who the vaccines are recommended for this year, what happens when you come in, and how to book with us in Sallynoggin.

Why it is worth getting vaccinated every year

Flu is not a heavy cold. For most healthy people it means a miserable week in bed. For older people, pregnant women, young children and anyone living with a long-term condition, it can lead to pneumonia, a hospital stay, or worse. COVID-19 still carries the same kind of risk for the same groups.

Both viruses keep changing, and the protection a vaccine gives you fades over time. That is why the vaccines are updated each year to match the strains expected to circulate, and why last year's vaccine does not cover you for this winter.

Ireland takes this seriously. Over 1.3 million flu vaccines were given here during the 2025/26 season, and more than 474,000 of those, around 35 per cent, were given by community pharmacists. The HSE's target is for 75 per cent of people aged 60 and over and 50 per cent of children aged 2 to 17 to be vaccinated against flu.

Who the flu vaccine is recommended for this year

The flu vaccine is free for everyone it is recommended for, and that covers a lot of people. It is recommended for:

• everyone aged 60 and over
• all children aged 2 to 17
• anyone who is pregnant, at any stage of pregnancy
• anyone aged 6 months or older with a long-term medical condition or a weakened immune system
• adults living in nursing homes and other long-term care settings
• healthcare workers
• carers, and people who live with someone who has a long-term health condition
• people in regular close contact with pigs, poultry or waterfowl

The long-term conditions on the HSE list include chronic heart, lung, kidney, liver and neurological conditions, diabetes, cancer, a weakened immune system due to illness or treatment, serious mental health conditions, Down syndrome, and a BMI of 40 or above. The list is not exhaustive, so if you are unsure whether a condition counts, ask us.

Who the COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for this year

The COVID-19 vaccine list is a little shorter. This year's vaccine is an updated version designed to match the variants circulating now. It is recommended for:

• everyone aged 60 and over
• adults living in long-term care settings for older people
• anyone aged 6 months or older with a weakened immune system
• anyone aged 6 months or older with one of the medical conditions listed above

Some other groups can choose to have it:

• Pregnancy. It is recommended in each pregnancy for anyone who is also in one of the risk groups above, and available to anyone else who is pregnant and would like it. It can be given at any stage, but ideally between 20 and 34 weeks.
• Healthcare workers. It is available to all healthcare workers this season.
• Adults aged 18 to 59 without a medical condition. One dose is available each year if you would like it, after a chat with a healthcare professional. We are happy to have that conversation with you.

Children aged 2 to 17 are only recommended a COVID-19 vaccine if they have a weakened immune system or an underlying medical condition.

Can I get both at the same time?

Yes. If you are due both vaccines, you can have them at the same appointment, one in each arm. Getting them together does not make either vaccine work less well, and it saves you a second trip. Just mention it when you book.

The nasal spray flu vaccine for children

Children aged 2 to 17 get their flu vaccine as a nasal spray rather than an injection. One quick spray goes into each nostril, the child breathes normally, and it is over in seconds. It does not hurt, which makes the whole thing a lot easier for everyone.

Pharmacies give more children's flu vaccines in Ireland than anyone else. Last season, 56 per cent of flu vaccines for 2 to 17 year olds were given in pharmacies.

Most children only need one dose. A small number of children with certain medical conditions may need a second dose four weeks later, and we will tell you if that applies to your child.

The nasal spray is not suitable for every child. Please let us know beforehand if your child:

• has had a severe allergic reaction to a flu vaccine or any of its ingredients before
• has asthma and has been wheezy, or needed their inhaler more than usual, in the last 3 days
• takes aspirin or other medicines called salicylates
• has a severely weakened immune system, or lives with someone who does
• has taken antiviral medicine for flu in the last 48 hours
• is pregnant

If the spray is not right for your child, there is usually an injected flu vaccine they can have instead, and we will talk you through it.

What actually happens when you come in

The whole visit takes a few minutes.

You book a time online. When you arrive, a pharmacist brings you into our private consultation room and goes through a few short questions about your health, any medicines you take, and any allergies. This is also the time to ask anything you want to know.

The vaccine itself is a small injection into the upper arm, so a short-sleeved top or a loose sleeve that rolls up easily makes things simpler. Afterwards, we ask you to wait with us for about 15 minutes before heading off, just as a precaution.

Bring your PPS number and a list of any medicines you take. If you have a high temperature or feel properly unwell on the day, give us a call and we will move your appointment. A mild cold on its own is not usually a reason to wait.

Side effects

Most people feel nothing more than a sore arm. Some people get a mild headache, aching muscles, tiredness or a slight temperature for a day or two. Children who have the nasal spray may get a runny or blocked nose for a day or so. These effects usually pass within 1 to 2 days and are a sign the body is building its protection.

One thing worth saying clearly: the flu injection cannot give you flu. It does not contain any live virus. If you feel unwell in the days after, it is either a normal mild reaction or a different bug that happened to be going around.

Serious allergic reactions are rare, and our pharmacists are trained to deal with them, which is one of the reasons we ask you to wait for 15 minutes.

When to get it

As soon as you can. The vaccine takes about two weeks to build its full protection, and flu usually starts spreading in Ireland in late autumn before peaking over the winter. Getting vaccinated in October or November means you are covered before the busiest weeks.

If you miss that window, it is still worth getting it later. Late protection is better than none.

Booking with us

We offer the adult flu vaccine, the COVID-19 vaccine and the children's nasal spray flu vaccine at Finnegan's Pharmacy in Sallynoggin. All vaccinations need a quick online booking first, so we have the right vaccine ready and a pharmacist's time set aside for you.

Book your flu or COVID-19 vaccine online. It only takes a minute. If you would rather check whether you qualify first, call in or give us a ring and we will be glad to help.

This guide is based on the HSE's recommendations for the 2026/27 autumn and winter vaccine programme, and it does not replace advice from your GP or pharmacist. Recommendations can depend on your individual health, so if you are unsure whether a vaccine is right for you or your child, speak to us or your GP. If you have trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, or feel seriously unwell after any vaccine, call 112 or 999 straight away.