Brussels, 1 October, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Belgium is preparing for its seasonal influenza campaign as autumn begins, with more than 2.9 million vaccine doses expected to be available for the 2026–27 season. The Belgian flu vaccination campaign is due to begin from mid-October, with health authorities prioritising older people and others at greater risk of serious illness.
The Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products (FAMHP) said the total supply is higher than last season and should be sufficient to meet expected demand. By the end of September, around two million doses were already available in Belgium.
Belgium prepares more than 2.9 million flu vaccine doses
Belgium will use trivalent influenza vaccines during the new campaign, following World Health Organization recommendations. These vaccines contain components targeting two influenza A strains and one influenza B strain.
Four standard-dose vaccines — Alpharix, Flucelvax, Influvac and Vaxigrip — are authorised from six months of age. Two enhanced vaccines are also available: Fluad, authorised for adults aged 50 and over, and the high-dose Efluelda vaccine for adults aged 60 and above.
Deliveries have faced delays in several countries following changes to WHO-recommended influenza strains and delays involving materials required for production and standardisation. FAMHP said the effect on Belgium remained limited, with the final 10% of the country’s vaccine supply expected by November.
Health authorities prioritise people at greater risk
The Superior Health Council recommends influenza vaccination particularly for people at greater risk of becoming seriously ill.
Priority groups include people aged 65 and over, pregnant women, people with chronic conditions or reduced immunity, residents of long-term care institutions, people with a body mass index of 40 or higher and children receiving long-term aspirin therapy. Healthcare workers and people whose work brings them into contact with pigs or poultry are also prioritised.
The Belgian flu vaccination campaign is ideally scheduled to begin in mid-October. According to FAMHP, protection develops approximately 10 to 15 days after an injection.
FAMHP says national vaccine supply should be sufficient
Concerns have emerged over the availability of some influenza vaccines, but the medicines regulator says there is currently no evidence that Belgium will have an overall shortage during the coming season.
FAMHP said reports received so far appear to concern the distribution and pre-ordering of standard-dose vaccines rather than the country’s total vaccine supply. The availability of enhanced vaccines is significantly higher than last season and is expected to be sufficient.
The agency said enough enhanced doses are expected to be available to cover all people aged 65 and over who received a flu vaccination last season, should they receive an enhanced vaccine this year.
Pharmacies remain central to Belgium’s vaccination drive
Access is not limited to GP surgeries. As in previous years, Belgian pharmacists can prescribe and administer influenza vaccines, providing another route for people seeking immunisation.
Belgium’s National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance, INAMI/RIZIV, also provides partial reimbursement for influenza vaccines for eligible risk groups. For standard-dose vaccines, eligible patients generally pay €4.08, falling to €2.45 for people entitled to increased reimbursement. People outside the eligible risk groups pay €17.74.
Different reimbursement rules apply to enhanced vaccines. Efluelda, for example, can be partially reimbursed for people aged 65 and over when a treating doctor considers an enhanced vaccine necessary under national recommendations.
Autumn campaign moves towards mid-October launch
The next important stage will be the mid-October start of the vaccination period. FAMHP recommends vaccination between mid-October and mid-December, giving priority groups a defined autumn window in which to seek protection.
For Brussels and the rest of Belgium, the Belgian flu vaccination campaign will therefore move from vaccine distribution and preparation into active immunisation in the coming weeks. Authorities will continue monitoring supply as remaining doses arrive and the country enters the 2026–27 influenza season.
