Portugal launches 2026-2027 seasonal influenza vaccination campaign

The 2026-2027 seasonal influenza and Covid-19 vaccination campaign is scheduled to begin on September 30 and run until March 31, 2027. The Directorate-General for Health (DGS) has announced that the National Health Service (SNS) has acquired approximately 2.33 million standard-dose vaccines and 369,000 high-dose vaccines, representing an increase in supply compared to the previous year.

A key update to the campaign is the expansion of free vaccination to children aged two to four years using the inactivated trivalent standard-dose vaccine. For children aged six to 23 months with no prior vaccination history, the DGS recommends two doses to enhance protection and reduce community transmission.

While the overall supply for eligible groups has increased, there will be fewer standard-dose vaccines available in the private market due to production issues at a pharmaceutical manufacturer. To mitigate this, the DGS has extended free vaccination eligibility to healthcare professionals providing direct care in private and social sector facilities, including those in inpatient, ambulatory surgery, obstetrics, neonatology, and dialysis units. Additionally, vaccination accessibility in pharmacies will be expanded for eligible individuals aged 18 to 59 with risk factors.