The extension of seasonal vaccination to all children aged 6 to 23 months, regardless of whether they are healthy or belong to risk groups, constitutes the main novelty of the 2025/2026 Seasonal Vaccination Campaign, recalls the DGS in a note published on the website.
Until this year, only children with specific pathologies or in risk contexts were eligible for free seasonal vaccination.
According to the DGS standard regarding the Autumn-Winter 2025-2026 Seasonal Flu Vaccination Campaign, children aged 6 months to 8 years with risk pathologies, in a risk context, or living with people at high risk of serious illness, without prior vaccination history, must receive two doses, four weeks apart.
If they have a previous history of vaccination, or if they are healthy between 6 and 23 months old, they should take one dose.
The DGS also recommends the vaccination of all children aged 2 to 4 years, upon medical prescription, and in these cases, vaccines must be purchased at pharmacies.
The health authority emphasizes that “pediatric vaccination constitutes a direct protection mechanism for children, the group most susceptible to flu infection”.
The DGS intends for this first universal campaign to help raise awareness of health professionals and caregivers about the impact of influenza in this age group and the benefits of vaccination, which is safe and effective in preventing infection, disease and its complications.
It also reiterates the call for all eligible children to be vaccinated, even if they have already been sick during this seasonal period.
“The available flu vaccine includes several viral strains, providing protection against possible infections caused by other circulating flu viruses”, highlights the health authority.