Flu. DGS calls for vaccination of children between 6 and 23 months

The Deputy Director-General of Health appealed to parents this Tuesday to vaccinate their babies and children between six months and two years old against the flu, to prevent serious cases of the disease and avoid hospitalizations.

Free flu vaccination was extended this year to all children aged 6 to 23 months , as part of the autumn-winter 2025-2026 seasonal campaign, which starts this Tuesday in health units of the National Health Service (SNS) and in 2,500 pharmacies, and continues until April 30, 2026.

The Directorate-General for Health (DGS) also recommends vaccinating children between the ages of two and five to prevent serious illness. In these cases, the vaccine is reimbursed.

The health authority justifies this decision with national data showing that "this age group has hospitalization and intensive care rates comparable to those recorded among older people."

Speaking to Lusa news agency, Deputy Director-General of Health André Peralta Santos stressed that this recommendation is not exclusive to Portugal, noting that "there are other countries in the European Union and, for example, the United Kingdom, which is not in the European Union, that also recommend flu vaccination for children."

The official explained that children can develop "a serious illness, which often requires hospitalization," although, "fortunately, it doesn't cause death, as it does in older people." "It's an extremely rare event," stated André Peralta Santos.

In addition to hospitalizations caused directly by the flu, the deputy director-general warned of the risk of secondary infections.

"After a bout of flu, children often develop other bacterial infections because they are more vulnerable to these infections (...) and what has been proven is that we have a safe vaccine that can protect these children from flu episodes, so they can get through the winter with less illness," he argued.

Faced with this reality, the Deputy Director-General of Health made "an appeal to all parents" to vaccinate their babies and children aged six months to two years with the flu vaccine.

"You can call your health center or, possibly, receive a call from your family nurse to schedule the vaccination, if you so wish," he said, emphasizing that "vaccination is always a free choice."

For children between the ages of two and five, he advised speaking with their family doctor or pediatrician to discuss vaccination. If they choose to be vaccinated, a "prescription" for the flu vaccine is issued and can be administered at the health center.