Tens of thousands of people experiencing homelessness in England are now eligible for free NHS flu vaccinations, in a new national effort aimed at protecting a group considered particularly vulnerable to serious respiratory infections.

According to The Independent, the programme, which began on October 1, covers people aged 16 and above who sleep rough or stay in homeless hostels and night shelters. It is the first time this group has been formally included as a dedicated category in England’s national flu vaccination programme.

NHS vaccination teams are expected to take the service into locations where homeless people are concentrated, including through mobile services and temporary clinics, to make access easier for those who may face difficulties using conventional healthcare facilities.

The move followed advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which recommended that people experiencing homelessness should routinely receive seasonal flu and pneumococcal vaccinations. Government guidance says the recommendation was based on evidence showing increased health risks and significant chances of hospitalisation from respiratory infections among the group.

The Department of Health and Social Care had announced in June that free NHS flu vaccination would be extended to rough sleepers and people staying in homeless hostels or night shelters. The government said the move was intended to improve access to preventive healthcare for people who often face barriers to routine medical services.

The expanded flu programme comes alongside the wider autumn vaccination campaign, which also covers people aged 65 and above, adults in clinical risk groups, care-home residents, carers and other eligible groups.