Flu vaccination campaign begins: when can you get vaccinated?
Vaccines will arrive gradually at clinics over the coming weeks. Health funds are calling on the public, especially high-risk populations, to get vaccinated as soon as the vaccines arrive. Last year, six children died from the virus.
The flu vaccination campaign for the 2026-2027 winter is underway: this year, vaccines are expected to arrive in Israel gradually during September and October, so in the first weeks, availability will vary between health funds and clinics. Some Maccabi branches will begin vaccinating today (Thursday), Clalit and Meuhedet are expected to start next week, while in Leumit, the campaign will open after Rosh Hashanah.
Last year, a difficult flu season was reported, during which significant morbidity was documented, including among children. During the last season, the Ministry of Health was notified of six children who died from the flu. At the peak of the season, the weekly hospitalization rate related to the flu was the highest since the 2010-2011 season, and among children under 18, a record rate not seen since that season was also recorded.
In Maccabi Healthcare Services, the vaccination campaign begins today, and doses will arrive gradually throughout the day and next week at nursing clinics across the country. Appointments can be scheduled via the app. The vaccine is intended for the entire population from the age of six months and up. It will be possible to schedule an appointment depending on vaccine availability at the relevant clinic. Last year, about 560,000 insured members were vaccinated at Maccabi — an increase of 28% compared to the previous season, when about 438,000 were vaccinated. This is the highest number of vaccinated members in the fund since the 2020-2021 winter, during the coronavirus pandemic. The highest vaccination rate was recorded among those aged 65 and over, standing at 54%, followed by pregnant women, with a vaccination rate of 31%.
In Clalit, the country's largest health fund, they will begin vaccinating next week. The fund has made available over a million vaccines administered by injection and another 25,000 vaccines as a nasal spray, intended for those aged two to 49. In the first stage, vaccines will be provided at central clinics and designated centers, and later the campaign will be expanded to all clinics in accordance with the pace of shipments arriving in Israel.
In Meuhedet, the first shipment was also received today, and vaccinations will begin during the coming week. The fund has made available about 250,000 doses, including a high-dose (HD) vaccine intended for those aged 65 and over, which will be provided to high-risk populations, an inactivated vaccine administered by injection, and later also a nasal spray vaccine for those aged two to 49. Vaccines are expected to arrive gradually at clinics until the holiday of Sukkot. In Meuhedet, they explain that this year there has been a global delay in the production and supply processes of flu vaccines due to an update in the vaccine's composition, a matter that also affects their availability in Israel at the beginning of the season.
"Vaccines are arriving in Israel and at clinics gradually this year, and it is recommended to schedule an appointment in advance to get vaccinated," says Hagar Wechsler, Director of the Nursing Division at Meuhedet. "We expect that vaccination in more significant volumes will be possible during October. It is important to remember that the flu is not a mild illness, and last year we saw significant morbidity and a heavy burden on hospitals. The goal is to reach the flu season protected, so as soon as the vaccine is available at the clinic, there is no reason to wait."
In Leumit, the campaign will begin later. The fund stated that vaccines are only just beginning to arrive and that vaccination for insured members is expected to begin after Rosh Hashanah. Ahead of the winter season, Leumit has made available about 120,000 vaccine doses.
