Flu season is approaching: Vaccination starts in November

The flu moves a bit like a weather system around the world. From the southern hemisphere it moves with people and then comes up to the northern hemisphere during the fall. There are three different virus types that move over the earth.

In the northern hemisphere can be expected to start sometime before Christmas, according to the epidemiologist. But the flu peak in Sweden usually comes before February. After the covid pandemic, the peak has fallen during the Christmas and New Year period for a couple of seasons.

Australia's flu season can provide a foretaste of what to expect next season in the northern hemisphere.

- It's not like we think it's the end of our season in the northern hemisphere. You cannot be completely sure that it will be like in the southern part of the hemisphere. We'll see which flu viruses take hold, says AnnaSara Carnahan.

Despite the uncertainty, the Southern Hemisphere data provide important guidance. The World Health Organization, WHO, decided last week what the vaccine content should be for the southern hemisphere in 2027. They then decided not to change anything in the content of the vaccine to be used before the season in Sweden.

- I interpret it to mean that the viruses circulating globally match what is also found in our vaccines that we will soon start using. That's a good sign.

On November 2, 2026, vaccination for the seasonal flu and covid-19 will begin in Sweden. The vaccine recommendation regarding influenza is aimed above all at people over 65, children and adults with underlying diseases and pregnant women. All regions offer free flu vaccination to these groups. While others have to pay.

- The advice is that risk groups should get vaccinated, because we know that there will be a flu season and the vaccine protects against all three types of seasonal flu, says the epidemiologist.

There can be various reasons for getting the flu vaccine even if you do not belong to a risk group, for example to avoid sick leave, to protect babies or the elderly in the family, or because you work in healthcare.

The number of cases of covid-19 remains at an even level, but at the moment fewer are infected than at this time in previous years, according to the epidemiologist.