+ 5 more offer it outside the routine schedule
What the Children's flu vaccine protects against
Protects against seasonal flu, which in young children can cause high fever, pneumonia, and occasionally inflammation of the brain, and leads to many hospital admissions each winter.
Also known as: nasal spray or injection
Why children are given it
Offered yearly to healthy children in the UK, Ireland, US, Australia (under 5), Brazil and others because young children are both high-risk and major spreaders. A new version is needed each year as the virus changes.
From each country's official schedule, checked against its sources (last full check 2026-09-16). Tap a country for its whole schedule and a personalised timeline.
| Country | Routine doses |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 2 years to school Year 11 (annually) (Every year)
Children's flu vaccine Also offered: Flu vaccine (from 6 months, at-risk) - Every autumn. Babies and children aged 6 months to 2 years with a long-term health condition are offered an injected flu vaccine. |
| 🇺🇸 United States | 2 months (1st of 3-4) Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) 4 months (2nd) Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) 6 months (Every year from 6 months)
Influenza (flu) |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | 6 months (Every year from 6 months)
Influenza (flu) |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | 6 months (Every year, 6 months to 5 years) Influenza (flu) 18 months (Booster)
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) |
| 🇿🇦 South Africa | Not on the routine schedule |
| 🇮🇳 India | Not on the routine schedule |
| 🇷🇺 Russia | 3 months (1st (risk groups))
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) Also offered: Influenza (flu) - Every year from 6 months. On the national calendar for children from 6 months, especially those attending nursery and school. |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | Not on the routine schedule
Also offered: Influenza (flu) - Every autumn. Recommended for children with chronic health conditions, and for household contacts of high-risk people. |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | Not on the routine schedule
Also offered: Children's flu vaccine (nasal spray) - Every autumn, ages 2-17. Offered free each year to all children aged 2-17. A quick nasal spray for most children. |
| 🇳🇿 New Zealand | Not on the routine schedule
Also offered: Influenza (flu) - Every year. Free for children aged 6 months and over with certain medical conditions. |
| 🇫🇷 France | Not on the routine schedule
Also offered: Influenza (flu) - Every autumn, from 2 years. Recommended for all children aged 2-17, with a nasal spray option for most, and free for children with chronic conditions. |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | Not on the routine schedule |
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | 6 months (Yearly campaign, 6 months to under 6 years)
Influenza (flu) |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | Not on the routine schedule
Also offered: Influenza (flu) - Every year. Recommended annually for all children aged 6 months to under 5 years, and for older children with certain medical conditions. Two doses in the first year a child is vaccinated. |
Good to know
- Flu changes every year, so a new vaccine is needed each autumn or winter.
- Young children catch and spread flu easily, so vaccinating them also protects grandparents and babies.
- Some countries offer it to all children every year; others only to children with certain health conditions.
Side effects: what is normal
- The nasal spray (used for children in several countries) can cause a runny or blocked nose, headache and tiredness for a day or two.
- The injection can cause a sore arm and a mild fever.
- It cannot give your child flu.
Most side effects are mild and pass within a day or two. Get medical advice straight away if your child has trouble breathing, swelling of the face or mouth, a fit, a temperature of 38°C or more in a baby under 3 months, or you are worried in any way. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.
This page is general information, not medical advice. Your doctor, nurse, health visitor or pharmacist can advise on your own child.
It depends on the country. Across the 6 countries that include it on their routine schedule, the first dose is given from 2 months to 2 years to school Year 11 (annually). In the UK it is given at 2 years to school Year 11 (annually). In the US it is given at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months. The table on this page shows every country.
Routine schedules give 1 to 3 doses in childhood, depending on the country and the product used. Combination vaccines can mean one injection counts towards several diseases.
It is routine in 6 of the 14 countries on this site. Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, France and Singapore offer it to particular groups of children (for example by season, health condition or risk). We do not currently list it on the childhood schedule for South Africa, India and Netherlands - some countries run separate regional, seasonal or risk-group programmes, so ask your local clinic.
Yes. Vaccines on the childhood schedule are given by age, not by sex - girls and boys receive the same doses at the same ages.
It is almost never too late to catch up, and a missed dose rarely means starting again - your doctor or nurse will continue from where your child left off. A few vaccines (such as rotavirus) have upper age limits. Contact your clinic to book a catch-up appointment.
- United Kingdom - NHS / UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)
- United States - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) / ACIP
- Canada - Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) / National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI)
- Australia - Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care - National Immunisation Program (NIP)
- Russia - Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation - National Preventive Vaccination Calendar
- Brazil - Ministerio da Saude - Programa Nacional de Imunizacoes (PNI)
- South Africa - National Department of Health - Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI-SA)
- India - Ministry of Health and Family Welfare - Universal Immunization Programme (UIP)
- Germany - Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) at the Robert Koch Institute / ECDC
- Ireland - Health Service Executive (HSE) / National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC)
- New Zealand - Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora / Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC)
- France - Ministere de la Sante / Haute Autorite de Sante (HAS) - calendrier vaccinal
- Netherlands - RIVM - National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (Rijksvaccinatieprogramma)
- Singapore - Ministry of Health (MOH) / Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) - National Childhood Immunisation Schedule (NCIS)
- NHS - Children's flu vaccine (side effects and more)
- NHS - NHS vaccinations and when to have them
- CDC - Possible side effects from vaccines
- WHO - Vaccines and immunization
How we research and check this information: our editorial policy.
More vaccine guides
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