Flu and COVID-19 Vaccines in Portugal: Who Is Eligible This Winter
The 2026 to 2027 campaign brings free flu shots for small children and moves COVID-19 vaccination to age 70. Who qualifies, which pharmacies can vaccinate you and how to book.
Portugal’s 2026 to 2027 autumn-winter vaccination campaign runs from 30 September 2026 to 31 March 2027. The flu vaccine is free for everyone aged 60 or over, children from 6 months to 4 years, pregnant women and people with risk conditions; the COVID-19 vaccine is now recommended from age 70. People aged 60 to 84 can get the flu shot at a participating pharmacy.
The rules come from the Directorate-General of Health (DGS, Direção-Geral da Saúde) norms 006/2026 for flu and 007/2026 for COVID-19, and from SNS 24, as of November 2026.
Who gets a free flu vaccine this winter?
The groups in Table 1 of DGS Norm 006/2026, updated on 23 September 2026:
| Group | Vaccine |
|---|---|
| Children from 6 to 23 months | Standard dose; 2 doses if never vaccinated before |
| Children aged 2 to 4 (new this season) | Standard dose; 1 dose, or 2 if in a vulnerable setting or with risk conditions and never vaccinated |
| People aged 60 to 84 | Standard dose, 1 dose |
| People aged 85 or over | High-dose vaccine, 1 dose |
| Pregnant women | Standard dose, 1 dose |
| People aged 5 to 59 with listed risk conditions | Standard dose |
| Residents of care homes and similar institutions aged 5 or over | Standard dose under 60, high dose from 60 |
The norm also covers health professionals in the social and private sectors, people who are homeless and people in prison, and several groups of workers exposed to sick animals. People outside the free groups can buy the vaccine at a pharmacy with a doctor’s prescription.
Who should get a COVID-19 vaccine?
From this season, the general age threshold for COVID-19 vaccination rose from 60 to 70. The government’s announcement of the campaign says the recommendation now targets the groups at highest risk of severe disease: people aged 70 or over, people with risk conditions and residents of care homes and other vulnerable settings.
In pharmacies, people aged 70 to 84 can get the COVID-19 vaccine regardless of health conditions, and people aged 18 to 69 can get it if they have an eligible risk condition. You can take both vaccines on the same day, and SNS 24 says no interval is needed between them.
Where can I get vaccinated in Lisbon?
At SNS health units (health centers and hospitals) or at a pharmacy taking part in the campaign. SNS 24 sets out who can go where:
- Pharmacies: people aged 60 to 84 for flu, with or without risk conditions; people aged 18 to 59 with risk conditions; and for COVID-19, the age groups above.
- Health centers and hospitals: anyone covered by free vaccination, including everyone aged 85 or over and children.
The pharmacy list is on the SNS 24 pharmacy finder, or you can ask your usual pharmacy whether it takes part. Our guide to pharmacies in Lisbon explains how to find one open late.
How do I book?
- Wait for the SMS. SNS 24 says eligible users receive an information SMS, and health units call people aged 85 or over and people with risk conditions by SMS or phone.
- If you are 60 to 84, you can book yourself at your health unit or on the Portuguese pharmacies’ booking platform. You get a confirmation SMS 24 hours before.
- If your pharmacy does not use the platform, book at the counter or by phone.
- Bring valid ID. If you qualify because of a risk condition, the pharmacy checks eligibility in the SNS system or asks for the SNS eligibility message with your national user number.
- After the shot, the vaccine appears in your vaccination record (boletim de vacinas) on the SNS 24 portal and app.
If you qualify and nobody has contacted you, SNS 24 tells you to contact a health unit or pharmacy yourself. Details are on the SNS 24 flu vaccination page.
Do foreign residents need an SNS number?
For age-based eligibility, a valid ID is what pharmacies ask for: SNS 24 lists a valid identity document among the requirements and says no prescription is needed if you are eligible. For eligibility based on a risk condition, the check relies on your national user number (Número Nacional de Utente), because the pharmacy validates it in the SNS system.
In practice, residents who are registered with the SNS have the smoothest path, because the invitation SMS goes to the phone on their SNS record. If you do not yet have a number, see our guide to the SNS user number and ask your local health center how it vaccinates people still waiting for one.
What about routine vaccines for children?
Children’s routine vaccines are given under the National Vaccination Program (Programa Nacional de Vacinação, PNV), free of charge at health centers. DGS materials describe the program as open to everyone in Portugal, including foreign nationals. Bring your child’s vaccination records from your home country so the nurse can check what is missing.
Separate from the flu campaign, babies born between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027 and some premature or high-risk children are offered free protection against RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) under DGS Norm 004/2026. It is given in maternity wards, health centers and hospitals until 31 March 2027.
Bottom line
The two changes that matter this season are free flu vaccination for children aged 2 to 4 and the higher age, 70, for COVID-19. If you are 60 to 84 and healthy, a pharmacy appointment is the fastest route; if you have a chronic illness or are 85 or over, the health center is in charge of calling you, so keep your phone number up to date in your SNS record.
FAQ
Is the flu vaccine free for over-60s in Portugal?
Yes. DGS Norm 006/2026 includes everyone aged 60 or over in free flu vaccination for the 2026 to 2027 season. People aged 85 or over receive a high-dose vaccine.
When does the campaign end?
Flu vaccination runs until 31 March 2027. The government presents the campaign as protection for the months when respiratory viruses circulate most, so there is no reason to wait.
Can I get the flu vaccine if I am under 60 and healthy?
Yes, but it is not free. A doctor’s prescription lets you buy it at a pharmacy, and pharmacies and health units can administer it.
Can I have the flu and COVID-19 vaccines together?
Yes. SNS 24 says they can be given at the same time with no interval needed, or separately if you prefer.
