Flu: nine vaccines approved for the new season, including a nasal spray for children

- Fluarix and Fluarix Tetra (GlaxoSmithKline), suspension for injection: indicated for the active immunisation of adults and children from 6 months of age.

- Flucelvax (Seqirus), suspension for injection: indicated for the active immunisation of adults and children from 6 months of age.

- Fluenz (AstraZeneca) nasal spray: indicated for active immunisation in children and adolescents aged between 2 and 18 years.

- Influvac S and Influvac S Tetra (Viatris), suspension for injection: indicated for the active immunisation of adults and children from 6 months of age.

- Vaxigrip (Sanofi), suspension for injection: indicated for the active immunisation of adults, including pregnant women, and children from 6 months of age. Vaccination of pregnant women extends protection to infants from birth up to 6 months of age (passive protection).

“Flu vaccines have been used for years in vaccination campaigns and have a well-established safety profile”, notes the Agency, which monitors vaccine safety and, through the National Pharmacovigilance Network (RNF) with the support of regional centres, collects and analyses reports of suspected adverse reactions from healthcare professionals and members of the public. The data is also shared with the EMA to ensure coordinated monitoring at European level.

In its circular entitled ‘Prevention and control of influenza: recommendations for the 2026–2027 season’ dated 23 June 2026, the Ministry of Health recommends ‘conducting regional flu vaccination campaigns from the start of October (week 40 of the year) and to offer the vaccination to eligible individuals at any time during the influenza season, even if they arrive late for their vaccination or report having already had one or more flu-like episodes. This may be particularly important in the event of a late flu season or when high-risk patients present for vaccination”.

“Vaccination is recommended and actively offered free of charge to everyone aged 60 and over,” emphasises AIFA, “as well as to pregnant women and those in the postnatal period, children aged between 6 months and 6 years, to those with medical conditions that put them at greater risk of complications from influenza, to residents of long-term care facilities, to family members of individuals at high risk of complications, to staff in public services of primary public interest (such as doctors and healthcare and social care staff, police officers and firefighters), other categories of socially essential and particularly exposed workers, workers in contact with animals that could be a source of infection with non-human influenza viruses, and other categories such as blood donors”.

Not all authorised vaccines are necessarily available on the market. Each year, the regions decide, through tenders for supply, which of the commercially available products will be used during vaccination campaigns and provided free of charge by the National Health Service.

Vaccination is the most effective way of preventing flu and its complications, concludes AIFA, pointing out that, in addition to vaccine-based prevention and treatment measures, “an important measure in limiting the spread of influenza is good hygiene practices such as hand hygiene (washing your hands regularly and frequently with soap and water) and the containment of respiratory secretions (covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and then disposing of it in the bin; regularly ventilating the rooms you are in)”.