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How to read this page

• This page covers only the seasonal flu and COVID-19 vaccines for 2026/27, and only what the Spanish Ministry of Health and the Portuguese Directorate-General of Health (DGS) publish. It is not medical advice. If you are unsure whether you belong to a group, ask a doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
• "Recommended" (Spain) and "eligible for a free jab" (Portugal) describe the groups the authorities name. We found nothing in the passages we read that decides who counts as a newcomer. Whether and how you are registered with a health centre is something to ask at the centre itself.
• Both campaigns can change dates and vaccines. Confirm with your regional health service (Spain) or an SNS unit or participating pharmacy (Portugal) before you go.

Spain: flu jab 2026/27

• Who is recommended: The Ministry of Health lists four blocks. A: people aged 60 or over; children aged 6 to 59 months; people aged 5 to 59 with risk conditions (for example chronic heart, lung, kidney or liver disease, diabetes, immunosuppression, cancer); all pregnant women in any trimester. B: staff in health and care centres and essential public services such as police, fire services and civil protection. C: carers and people living with high-risk patients. D: other groups, such as staff in nurseries and people working directly with farm animals. The Ministry's Q&A says that, for now, flu vaccination is not justified for people outside these groups.
• Free and not compulsory: The Ministry says the national health system provides the vaccines free to people for whom they are recommended. Flu vaccination is not compulsory in Spain.
• When: The Ministry's Q&A (dated 19 May 2026) says the campaign starts from the last week of September and runs through October, and that the date may adapt to vaccine availability. Vaccination stays available until the season ends. Each autonomous community sets its own procedure, so you book or walk in through your regional health service. Your community is likely to prioritise people in care homes, people aged 80 and over, children 6 to 59 months, pregnant women and health staff first, per the Q&A.
• Doses and timing: One dose of flu vaccine for most people. A first-time vaccinated child aged 6 months to 8 years with risk conditions, or a premature baby under 32 weeks, may need two doses at least 4 weeks apart. The jab can be given on the same day as the COVID-19 jab, and with others such as pneumococcal, RSV, shingles or tetanus vaccines.
• Source: Ministerio de Sanidad: vacunación gripe y COVID-19; Ministerio de Sanidad: preguntas y respuestas, vacunación frente a gripe 2026-2027 (PDF)

Spain: COVID-19 jab 2026/27

• Who is recommended: From the Ministry's September 2026 Q&A: people aged 70 or over; residents of care homes and disability centres; people from 6 months old with special vulnerability from immunosuppression or serious chronic disease; people aged 12 and over with listed conditions such as diabetes, chronic kidney disease or chronic liver disease; all pregnant women in any trimester. Staff in health and care centres, and people who live with or care for people in risk groups, may access it as personal protection.
• When and doses: The campaign starts from the last week of September and during October, depending on availability, and each autonomous community sets its own procedure. One dose, with at least 3 months since the last dose or the last COVID-19 infection. People who have not yet had the recommended 2026/27 dose can be vaccinated at any time of year after an individual assessment.
• Source: Ministerio de Sanidad: preguntas y respuestas, vacunación frente a COVID-19 2026-2027 (PDF)

Portugal: flu jab 2026/27

• Dates: DGS Norma 006/2026 (published 17 Sep 2026, updated 8 Oct 2026) says seasonal flu vaccination runs from 30 September 2026 to 31 March 2027. 30 September 2026 was a Wednesday.
• Who gets it free: Children aged 6 months to 4 years inclusive (new in 2026/27: free for ages 2 to 4); everyone aged 60 or over; pregnant women; people aged 5 to 59 with risk conditions (the Norma's Table 2); and people aged 5 or over in vulnerable settings, such as care homes and home-care users. Certain workers are also listed, including some health-care, fire and prison staff. For children aged 6 to 23 months vaccinated for the first time, two doses are now recommended.
• Where: Free vaccination is given at SNS health units (primary or hospital care), at community pharmacies registered with Infarmed for the campaign, and at other places such as private or social health units, workplace health services and care homes. Anyone covered can go to an SNS health unit, which organises the session and any appointment. DGS also announced that pharmacies now vaccinate eligible people aged 18 to 59 with risk conditions; at the pharmacy, a valid ID document is required, and for people with risk conditions eligibility is validated first.
• If you are not in a free group: The Norma's footnotes say that people under 60 outside the free groups can be vaccinated in pharmacies or SNS units, with the vaccine dispensed in the community pharmacy on a medical prescription. We did not find the price on the pages we read, so ask the pharmacy.
• COVID-19 at the same time: The Norma says the flu and COVID-19 vaccines can be given together to encourage uptake, but you can choose different days, and neither should be delayed just to give them together. Paracetamol may be advised after both.
• Source: DGS: campanha 2026-2027 arranca a 30 de setembro; DGS: Norma n.º 006/2026, campanha de vacinação sazonal contra a gripe 2026-2027 (PDF, atualizada a 08/10/2026); SNS: portal (campanha Vacinação Gripe e COVID-19 2026/27)

Portugal: COVID-19 jab 2026/27

• What changed: The DGS announcement of 17 Sep 2026 says the 2026/27 COVID-19 strategy targets people at highest risk of severe disease. The age threshold for the seasonal jab moves from 60 to 70 years, and people with risk conditions and residents of vulnerable settings stay included. Primary vaccination continues all year but is limited to specific higher-risk groups.
• Pharmacies: COVID-19 vaccination in community pharmacies is widened to people aged 18 to 69 with risk conditions, and continues for people aged 70 to 84 whether or not they have a risk condition.
• Source: DGS: campanha 2026-2027 arranca a 30 de setembro; DGS: vacinação sazonal (página do programa)

Practical checklist

• Work out your group first: age, pregnancy, a chronic condition, or a job in health care. If none apply, Spain's Ministry says flu vaccination is not currently justified, and Portugal's free jab is not open to you.
• Spain: ask your regional health service or health centre (centro de salud) how to book. Do it now, since campaigns start from late September and run through October.
• Portugal: you have until 31 March 2027. Go to an SNS health unit or a participating pharmacy and take a valid ID document.
• Bring any record of earlier vaccines and, if you take regular medicines, the list. Tell the nurse about allergies, a fever or anticoagulant treatment.
• In an emergency call 112; see our emergency numbers page for out-of-hours lines.

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Frequently asked questions

• Is the flu jab free for newcomers in Spain? The Spanish Ministry of Health says the national health system provides the vaccine free to people in the recommended groups: 60 or over, children 6 to 59 months, pregnant women, people aged 5 to 59 with risk conditions and the other listed groups. The pages we read do not say anything specific about newcomers, so ask your regional health service.
• Can I still get a flu jab in Portugal in November or December? Yes. DGS Norma 006/2026 says the seasonal flu vaccination period runs from 30 September 2026 to 31 March 2027.
• I am 45 and healthy. Can I get a free flu jab? Not under either country's published free groups. Spain says vaccination is not currently justified outside the target groups. In Portugal, people under 60 outside the free groups can be vaccinated in pharmacies with a prescription, at a price we did not find. Ask a pharmacist or doctor.
• Can I have the flu and COVID-19 jabs on the same day? Yes. Both the Spanish Ministry and the Portuguese DGS say they can be given together, and neither should be delayed only to give them together.
• What changed in Portugal this year? Free flu vaccination widened to children aged 2 to 4, and the seasonal COVID-19 age threshold moved from 60 to 70, according to the DGS announcement of 17 September 2026.

Sources

• Ministerio de Sanidad: vacunación gripe y COVID-19
• Ministerio de Sanidad: preguntas y respuestas, vacunación frente a gripe 2026-2027 (PDF)
• Ministerio de Sanidad: preguntas y respuestas, vacunación frente a COVID-19 2026-2027 (PDF)
• DGS: campanha 2026-2027 arranca a 30 de setembro
• DGS: Norma n.º 006/2026, campanha de vacinação sazonal contra a gripe 2026-2027 (PDF, atualizada a 08/10/2026)
• SNS: portal (campanha Vacinação Gripe e COVID-19 2026/27)
• DGS: vacinação sazonal (página do programa)

Last checked: 27 October 2026. General information, not medical or legal advice. Health authorities can change dates and rules at any time; confirm with your health service or the linked official page.