The seasonal vaccination campaign, under the slogan “Get vaccinated and protect the most important moments,” introduces free flu vaccinations for all children aged six to 23 months. For children aged two to five years, the vaccination is subsidized, according to André Peralta Santos, the Deputy Director-General of Health.
“This year, we have something new due to the fact that, in infants and children up to five years old, the flu often causes illnesses that sometimes result in hospitalizations, though complete recovery is generally achieved,” he emphasized.
André Peralta Santos advised that individuals over 60, those with chronic illnesses of any age, and healthcare professionals should get vaccinated against the flu and COVID-19. He stressed the importance of immunization against these viruses that “continue to cause severe illness, especially in the elderly.”
People aged 60 to 84 can get vaccinated at health centers or pharmacies. As in the previous campaign, those over 85, who are at a higher risk of developing severe flu, will receive “a vaccine with an enhanced dose that provides extra protection.”
André Peralta Santos assured that there are sufficient vaccines for everyone eligible, aiming to vaccinate about 2.5 million people against the flu and 1.5 million against COVID-19 before Christmas.
“This is important and somewhat related to this year’s theme,” he stated, explaining that winter has “very important moments” of festivities, highlighting the need for people to be vaccinated ideally by December 15, although the campaign will continue throughout winter.
Regarding vaccine hesitancy, the Deputy Director-General of Health reinforced that the flu and COVID-19 vaccines are “very safe” and represent the “simplest and most effective way” to prevent severe illness caused by these viruses.
“Every year, we know that the flu, especially in December and January, peaks and is very frequent. Therefore, we want the Portuguese to get vaccinated to protect themselves against severe illness,” he emphasized.
When asked about the current spread of the COVID-19 virus, André Peralta Santos explained that despite an increase during the summer months, it has not caused significant strain on health services as seen in the early years of the pandemic.
“It continues to cause severe illness, thankfully much less than before.” Hence, the goal is to “vaccinate as many people as possible” to prevent severe forms of the disease.
However, he noted, “the number of COVID-19 patients is not causing concerns of potential strain on emergency departments or hospital admissions.”
The autumn-winter 2025-2026 Seasonal Vaccination Campaign is running from September 23 to April 30, 2026, at National Health Service facilities and community pharmacies.
Ema Paulino, President of the National Association of Pharmacies (ANF), stated that the campaign is taking place in 2,500 pharmacies and is aimed at individuals aged 60 to 84.
She highlighted the growing vaccine hesitancy and misinformation, both nationally and internationally, urging trust in science.
“Vaccination is a safe, quick, and effective act of individual and collective protection,” she stressed, calling on eligible people to schedule their appointments in preparation for “the months of increased virus circulation.”
