Flu vaccination: how countries compare
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General information only. Not medical advice and not a substitute for a doctor.
Elsewhere, call your local emergency number.
Each country bases its guidelines on its own evidence reviews and health system. Age Flags lists them side by side and does not judge between them.
United States
| Item | Who it is for | How often / doses | Guideline | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flu vaccine (any type suitable for age and health) Flu vaccination |
6 months to 18 years | 6 months to 18 years · Children aged 6 months to 8 years who have had fewer than two flu vaccine doses before (see the source for the cut-off date), or whose history is unknown, need two doses at least 4 weeks apart; everyone else needs one dose each season. | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US) · Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule Notes · CDC immunization schedule MyHealthfinder: Get Your Pre-teen's Vaccines on Schedule |
|
| Flu vaccine (any type suitable for age and health) Flu vaccination |
age 19 and over | every year · From age 65, a high-dose, recombinant or adjuvanted flu vaccine is preferred. | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US) · Adult Immunization Schedule Notes · CDC immunization schedule MyHealthfinder: Get Vaccines to Protect Your Health (Adults Ages 19 to 49 Years) Adult Immunization Schedule by Age (Table 1) |
England, UK
| Item | Who it is for | How often / doses | Guideline | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Children's flu vaccine Flu vaccination |
ages 2 to 15 | 2–15 years · Given every year until children finish Year 11 of secondary school. | NHS England · NHS vaccinations and when to have them · National programme National flu immunisation programme 2026 to 2027 letter Children's flu vaccine Complete routine immunisation schedule from 1 September 2026 |
|
| Inactivated flu vaccine (injection) Flu vaccination |
age 65 and over | every year | UK Health Security Agency · Complete routine immunisation schedule · National programme Flu vaccine National flu immunisation programme 2026 to 2027 letter |
|
| Inactivated flu vaccine (injection) Flu vaccination |
Women; Pregnant | Can be given at any stage of pregnancy during the flu season. | UK Health Security Agency · Complete routine immunisation schedule · National programme Flu vaccine National flu immunisation programme 2026 to 2027 letter |
China
| Item | Who it is for | How often / doses | Guideline | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seasonal flu vaccine (inactivated or live attenuated) Flu vaccination |
from 6 months | every year · Priority groups are health workers, people aged 60 and over, people with chronic conditions, care-home residents and staff, children aged 6 months to under 5 years, carers of babies under 6 months and pregnant women. Children under 9 years having their first inactivated vaccine need two doses at least 4 weeks apart. | Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention · 中国流感疫苗预防接种技术指南(2026—2027) · Technical guideline 中国流感疫苗预防接种技术指南(2026—2027)（发布页） |
Japan
| Item | Who it is for | How often / doses | Guideline | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flu vaccine (influenza HA vaccine) Flu vaccination |
from age 60 until your 65th birthday; Disability of heart, kidney or respiratory function that severely limits daily life, or HIV-related immune disability that makes daily life almost impossible (as defined by MHLW ordinance) | every year | Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Japan) · 定期接種実施要領 · Set by law 予防接種法施行令（昭和二十三年政令第百九十七号） インフルエンザワクチン(高齢者)（厚生労働省） |
|
| Flu vaccine (influenza HA vaccine) Flu vaccination |
age 65 and over | every year | Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Japan) · 定期接種実施要領 · Set by law 予防接種法施行令（昭和二十三年政令第百九十七号） インフルエンザワクチン(高齢者)（厚生労働省） |
Spain
Brazil
| Item | Who it is for | How often / doses | Guideline | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inactivated flu vaccine (injection) Flu vaccination |
6 months to 5 years | 6 months to 5 years · Given every flu season; a child having it for the first time needs 2 doses 30 days apart, then a single dose in each later year. | Ministério da Saúde (Brazil) · Instrução Normativa do Calendário Nacional de Vacinação 2026 · National programme Calendário Nacional de Vacinação (Ministério da Saúde) |
|
| Inactivated flu vaccine (injection) Flu vaccination |
age 60 and over | every year | Ministério da Saúde (Brazil) · Instrução Normativa do Calendário Nacional de Vacinação 2026 · National programme Calendário Nacional de Vacinação (Ministério da Saúde) |
Emergency and crisis lines
United States
Emergency 911 Emergency services (United States) · Source
Crisis line 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (United States) · Available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. · Source
United Kingdom
Emergency 999 NHS England · Source
Health advice 111 NHS England · Source
Crisis line 116 123 Samaritans · Open 24 hours a day. · Source
China
Emergency 120 National Health Commission (China) · Source
Crisis line 12356 National Health Commission (China) · Each line provides at least 18 hours of service a day under the national notice; hours vary by city. · Source
Japan
Emergency 119 Fire and Disaster Management Agency (Japan) · Source
Crisis line 0120‑061‑338 #いのちSOS (Lifelink) · Open 24 hours a day, every day (free call). · Source
Crisis line 0120‑279‑338 Yorisoi Hotline · Open 24 hours a day (free call). · Source
Spain
Emergency 112 Emergency services (Spain) · Source
Crisis line 024 Ministerio de Sanidad (Spain) · Free and confidential, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. · Source
Brazil
Emergency 192 Ministério da Saúde (Brazil) · Source
Crisis line 188 CVV — Centro de Valorização da Vida · Free, 24 hours a day, anywhere in Brazil. · Source
Elsewhere, call your local emergency number.