The 2026-27 influenza vaccination campaign has begun in Ibiza and Formentera, with health teams heading into schools and residential centres from Monday, October 5.

This year's campaign brings an important change for children, with the recommended influenza vaccination group expanded from children aged 6 months to 7 years last season to children aged 6 months to 11 years.

The school-based programme that began this week is targeting children aged 3 to 5 in the second cycle of infant education, with vaccination taking place after parents or legal guardians provide consent.

Vaccination Reaches 47 Schools in Ibiza and Formentera

Health teams will visit 47 schools across the Pitiusas as part of the campaign.

There are 43 participating schools in Ibiza and four in Formentera.

Across the Balearic Islands, the programme is expected to offer vaccination to around 27,000 children enrolled in the second cycle of infant education.

The school programme is being carried out by mobile vaccination teams from the Balearic health service. Staff are also offering vaccination to teachers and other school employees who wish to receive it on the same day as the children.

The authorities aim to maintain or improve the coverage achieved during the previous campaign, when 44.8% of children enrolled in the second cycle of infant education were vaccinated.

Children Up to 11 Now Included in the Campaign

The main change this season is the expansion of the childhood influenza vaccination programme.

The eligible age group has been extended to children from 6 months through to 11 years, compared with 6 months to 7 years in the previous campaign.

Children aged 3 to 5 are being offered the vaccine directly through the school programme.

Children in the wider eligible age group can also access vaccination through the health service according to the campaign's arrangements.

The expansion is intended to increase protection among children and contribute to reducing influenza transmission and complications.

General Vaccination Opens October 19

The campaign is not yet open to everyone.

From Monday, October 19, influenza vaccination will become available to the entire population of the Balearic Islands, regardless of whether someone belongs to one of the traditionally prioritised risk groups.

Appointments can be requested through Espai Salut, by telephone on 971 22 00 00 or directly through the relevant health centre.

People in priority groups will also be offered vaccination when they attend their health centre for other reasons.

Who Is Included in the Priority Groups?

The campaign continues to prioritise people considered at greater risk of complications from influenza.

These include pregnant women and women who have recently given birth without having been vaccinated during pregnancy, children from 6 months to 11 years and people aged 11 to 59 with certain underlying health conditions.

People with chronic cardiovascular, neurological or respiratory conditions, diabetes, severe obesity, chronic kidney disease, immunosuppression, cancer and several other medical conditions are included among the priority groups.

The campaign also covers healthcare and social-care workers, carers and people living with individuals at higher risk, as well as workers in essential public services such as firefighters, police, Civil Protection and teaching staff.

People who work directly with birds or pigs, including certain veterinary, farming and environmental professionals, are also included.

New Adult RSV Protection

Another new element of the 2026-27 campaign is vaccination against respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, for vulnerable adults.

From October 5, adults aged 60 and over who live in residential care facilities and other designated social-health centres are being offered RSV immunisation.

Protection is also available to certain people aged 18 and over who are considered at very high risk, including some recipients of stem-cell or solid-organ transplants and people receiving CAR-T cellular therapy.

RSV is one of the main causes of serious respiratory illness, particularly among vulnerable people.

RSV Protection for Babies Continues

The Balearic health service is also continuing its RSV immunisation programme for infants.

Babies born from October 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027 can receive the monoclonal antibody nirsevimab in hospital before discharge.

Babies born between April 1 and September 30, 2026 can receive the protection through their health centre or paediatric service from October.

The health authorities have acquired 15,500 doses of RSV antibodies for the 2026-27 season, covering both infants and vulnerable adults.

More Than 289,000 Flu Doses

For the influenza campaign, the Conselleria de Salud has purchased 289,090 vaccine doses.

Last season, 219,096 people across the Balearic Islands received the flu vaccine.

In Ibiza and Formentera, 21,995 people were vaccinated during the 2025-26 campaign.

Across the islands, 34.3% of the target population was vaccinated last season, up from 30.9% in 2024-25.

The health authorities are aiming to continue increasing vaccination coverage during the new campaign.

When to Get Vaccinated in Ibiza and Formentera

The campaign is being introduced in stages.

From October 5:
School vaccination for eligible children, vaccination in residential centres and vaccination for people receiving home care.

From October 19:
Influenza vaccination opens to the entire population of the Balearic Islands, including people who are not in a priority risk group.

Appointments can be arranged through Espai Salut, by calling 971 22 00 00 or through the relevant health centre.

With the campaign now underway, health teams will continue visiting schools and residential facilities across Ibiza and Formentera before vaccination becomes available to the wider population later this month.