Flu Vaccine 2026-2027

What is the flu and what are the ways to prevent it?

Influenza is a contagious respiratory disease caused by the influenza virus. It can cause mild to severe illness, but can sometimes even lead to death. The elderly, young children and people with certain chronic diseases are at greater risk for serious complications of influenza. According to longitudinal epidemiological surveillance in Greece, it appears that seasonal influenza activity usually increases in January, peaks between February and March, and is often accompanied by disruption of professional and social life, excessive drug use, and, not infrequently, increased mortality. 

Measures to limit the spread of influenza include the systematic implementation of personal hygiene measures (e.g. frequent hand washing), the isolation of sufferers and the avoidance of close contact in closed spaces. However, these measures have limited effectiveness and – although important – are not sufficient.

The most effective way of prevention is vaccination with the influenza vaccine, which, when administered correctly and on time, protects against the transmission of the virus, contributes to protection against serious complications, as well as to the reduction of absences from work, school and any other social event. It is noted that, according to international pharmacovigilance systems, the influenza vaccine is safe, while no serious systemic adverse effects have been recorded. 

Who should get the flu vaccine?

According to the National Vaccination Program of our country, the recommendations for influenza vaccination for the upcoming period 2026-2027 include, as a priority, the following population groups or high-risk situations: 1. People aged 60 years and over 2. Infants and children aged 6 months to 5 years 3. Children over 5 years of age and adults with one or more of the following aggravating factors or chronic diseases:

•  Chronic respiratory diseases, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
• Chronic heart diseases
• Immunosuppression (hereditary or acquired)
• Organ transplantation and bone marrow transplantation
• Mediterranean anemia, sickle cell anemia or other hemoglobinopathies
•  Diabetes mellitus or other chronic metabolic disease
• Chronic kidney disease
• Chronic liver diseases
•  Neurological-neuromuscular diseases
• Down syndrome

4. Pregnant women regardless of gestational age, postpartum women and breastfeeding women. 5. People with morbid obesity (Body Mass Index >40Kg/m2) and children with BMI >95th ED.

6. Children taking long-term aspirin (e.g. for Kawasaki disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and others).

7. People who are in close contact with children younger than 6 months or care for or live with people with an underlying illness, which increases the risk of complications from influenza.

8. Closed or vulnerable populations, such as staff and internal students of schools or colleges (e.g. military and police schools), students and staff of special schools, refugee-immigrant accommodation centers, detention centers, homeless people and staff in their temporary accommodation areas, new recruits (when their classification coincides with the seasonal flu period) 9. Workers in health service areas (nursing staff, other workers, health professions students in clinical practice), in institutions for the chronically ill and accommodation units for the elderly

and in refugee-immigrant accommodation centers

10. People residing in institutions for the chronically ill and elderly care units 11. Veterinarians, poultry farmers, pig farmers, breeders - [including mink breeders (fur-bearing mammals)], slaughterhouse workers and generally people who come into systematic contact with birds or pigs

When should I get the vaccine?

The influenza vaccine should be administered in a timely manner and before the start of the influenza outbreak period, since it takes approximately 2 weeks to achieve an immune response. Preferably, according to the period of onset of the influenza outbreak in our country, the influenza vaccination can be carried out from mid-October to the end of November. If the vaccination is not carried out in the recommended period, it can be supplemented throughout the duration of the seasonal influenza.

How is the flu vaccine prescribed and where can I get the flu vaccine?

The flu vaccination is carried out in pharmacies free of charge without the presentation of a medical prescription, but only with the use of the citizen's AMKA, with priority given to high-risk groups, as defined in the National Vaccination Program. This action will concern, as in previous years, only conventional vaccines and only for the adult population.

For high-dose booster flu vaccines and for booster flu vaccines with an adjuvant that are recommended for people aged 65 and over, they are prescribed exclusively by the doctor upon presentation of an electronic prescription at the pharmacy, they are free of charge and the vaccination is carried out at the pharmacy.

How many doses are needed for the flu vaccine?

Flu vaccination generally includes only 1 dose of the vaccine per year (Adults).

Specifically for children and adolescents, the following applies: • Infants aged ≥6 months are administered 0.5 ml (the entire dose), according to the instructions from official European or other drug bodies (EMA, FDA, etc.). • Infants and children aged <9 years who are vaccinated for the first time, or those aged <9 years who have previously received only 1 dose of influenza vaccine, need 2 doses of influenza vaccine, with an interval of at least 28 days. For the nasal influenza vaccine LAIV*: administered as a 0.1 ml nasal spray in each nostril to children aged 2 to under 18 years. 

In children aged <9 years who have not previously been vaccinated against seasonal influenza, a second dose should be administered with an interval of at least 4 weeks. 

It has a satisfactory safety profile, but due to the attenuated viruses it contains, its administration is contraindicated in children who have experienced recurrent wheezing episodes in the last 12 months or a history of bronchial asthma, in those with immunosuppression (hereditary or acquired) or in children receiving long-term aspirin treatment. Children and adolescents aged 2 to 18 years who live with people with severe immunosuppression are recommended to be vaccinated with the inactivated influenza vaccine. However, if they are vaccinated with the live attenuated vaccine and in order to avoid the theoretical risk of transmission of the vaccine virus, it is recommended that they avoid contact with the susceptible person for a period of 7 days. It is noted that, as is true for all vaccines, it should not be administered to children with known anaphylaxis to a component of the vaccine. The administration of this vaccine appears to contribute to better compliance in children. In case of missing the second dose, the vaccination can be completed with the inactivated injectable influenza vaccine. 

I want to get the coronavirus and flu vaccine, how do I do it?

The influenza vaccine can be administered simultaneously on the same day and at a different anatomical site, as well as any other day before or after the coronavirus vaccine. 

I am sick with COVID-19 or another respiratory infection, when should I get the flu vaccine?

- Asymptomatic individuals who have come into contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case and have a negative laboratory test can be vaccinated as normal. - Symptomatic patients with COVID-19 infection or other respiratory infection should postpone their vaccination until the symptoms of the disease subside.

Source:

Ministry of Health   https://www.moh.gov.gr/