Spanish regions launch school flu vaccinations with needle-free nasal spray

School-based immunization in Extremadura and Andalusia

Regional health authorities across Spain launched their 2026–2027 respiratory virus vaccination campaigns on 1 October 2026, deploying mobile clinical teams directly to educational centers. In Extremadura, the regional health service deployed more than 70 healthcare teams across 466 schools to administer needle-free intranasal Fluenz doses to children aged 3 to 11. Regional health minister Sara García Espada presented the initiative at the Dion Casio school in Mérida, where parental authorization exceeded 60%. The regional government purchased 104,000 doses of the nasal spray vaccine for 1.67 million euros to cover two campaigns following a previous season incidence rate that approached 491 cases per 100,000 inhabitants among children.

“Last year the flu had a very significant spike in the child population that led us to act this way this year.”

In Andalusia, health authorities targeted more than 90,000 children aged 3 and 4 across 2,503 educational centers using the intranasal vaccine. The Andalusian initiative includes 28,013 pupils in Seville, more than 16,800 in Cádiz, and an expected cohort that previously vaccinated 7,401 pupils in Córdoba. Across Andalusia, the broader target group encompasses more than 180,000 children aged between six months and five years, alongside teaching staff.

Expanded pediatric coverage across northern regions

Northern autonomous communities simultaneously widened their pediatric eligibility thresholds for the autumn campaign. The Principality of Asturias extended flu immunization recommendations to cover all children from six months up to 13 years of age, a demographic of approximately 85,000 minors. The Asturian health service established 30 dedicated afternoon vaccination hubs offering 44,000 doses of intranasal spray for children aged 2 to 13. Children aged between 6 and 24 months in Asturias receive a cell-culture vaccine in primary care pediatric clinics from a batch of 70,000 purchased doses.

In the Basque Country, regional health minister Alberto Martínez opened campaign appointments at the Doctor Areilza clinic in Bilbao, urging parents of infants under one year to seek vaccination. The Basque health service, Osakidetza, hired 300 additional staff (225 nurses and 85 administrative personnel) to run the campaign through 31 December 2026. Osakidetza secured nearly 800,000 flu vaccine doses and more than 350,000 COVID-19 doses after administering over 603,000 total doses in 2025.

Targeted rollout schedules and older age groups

Regional health services have structured the rollout through phased priority tiers that address care homes, medical staff, and older demographics. In Andalusia, high-antigen flu doses are now systematically offered to adults starting at age 75 rather than 80. Care home residents and immunocompromised individuals aged 12 and older in Andalusia also receive the Bimervax protein-based COVID-19 vaccine developed by Hipra.

Málaga351,122

Cádiz245,785

Almería156,688

Málaga

351122

Cádiz

245785

Almería

156688

Data from the article text

In Almería, Andalusian government delegate Francisco Góngora marked the start of the joint flu and COVID-19 campaign during a visit to the Ángeles Parra nursing home in Huércal-Overa.

“Vaccination remains the most effective and safe tool to protect public health and prevent serious complications associated with respiratory viruses during the autumn and winter months.”

The Andalusian calendar continues on 7 October for individuals aged 80 and older, expands on 14 October to people aged 70 and older, and reaches those aged 60 and older as well as security forces on 21 October. In Asturias, the health department procured 349,000 total flu doses, including 165,000 Fluad shots for residents aged 60 to 79 and 70,000 Efluelda shots for individuals aged 80 and older or in care facilities.