Published 2 October 2026. UKHSA update published 8 September 2026. Adult programme start: 1 October 2026. Applies to England.

October is here. Is the plan ready?

A vaccination visit is booked, a resident is away, and the person covering the shift cannot find the latest update. Winter preparation often comes down to these small gaps. This is a useful week to check who is doing what, rather than relying on a reminder email.

What has changed this season?

England’s main adult flu vaccination programme began on 1 October 2026. Eligible groups include people aged 65 and over and residents in long-stay residential care homes. The national programme also covers eligible frontline social care staff without an employer-led occupational health scheme.

UKHSA’s September update identifies an additional eligible group this season: people aged 16 and over who sleep rough or use homeless hostels or night shelters. That is a specific definition, not every form of housing insecurity. Check the full guidance and individual eligibility with the vaccination provider.

A practical check for your next handover

The following are ServPatch’s organisational suggestions, not a replacement for your clinical or vaccination procedures:

  • Name a lead. Make it clear who is liaising with the GP, pharmacy or vaccination team, and who covers their absence.
  • Confirm the arrangements. Check visit dates, access and any communication support needed. For home care, clarify what help the person wants with appointments.
  • Keep statuses distinct. An invitation, a booking and a completed vaccination are different things. Avoid a single tick that could mean any of them.
  • Close the loop. Agree who follows up missed appointments or questions, and when. Store health information only in appropriate, access-controlled records.

Make staff information easy to find

Share a short explanation of the relevant staff vaccination route, a contact for questions and how appointments fit around shifts. Do not assume residents and staff follow identical arrangements. Keep clinical decisions, consent and suitability with the appropriate professionals.

A useful end-of-week question is: “If our lead is off tomorrow, can someone else see the next action?” That is a more practical test than whether a winter-planning document exists.

For the wider continuity plan, read our guide to making emergency planning usable under pressure.

Official sources

Operational commentary, not individual medical advice. Use current NHS and UKHSA guidance and your local vaccination provider for eligibility, consent and clinical decisions.