Flu vaccines for winter 2026 to 2027: who should get vaccinated and how to arrange it with each health fund

Ahead of winter 2026 to 2027, flu vaccination is recommended from six months of age, subject to medical suitability. Access differs between health funds: Maccabi requires an appointment, Meuhedet advertises walk-in vaccination at participating clinics, and with Clalit and Leumit, the appointment system or a call to the clinic is a useful starting point. Before leaving, make sure the service covers the relevant age group and the chosen location has vaccines in stock.

Maccabi and Meuhedet publish information explicitly referring to the 2026 to 2027 season. For Clalit and Leumit, the contact routes described here are based on the services they advertise, but a full seasonal breakdown of the vaccines available through each was not verified. This does not mean that no further information has been published or that vaccines are unavailable; confirm the vaccine type and local stock with your health fund.

The information in this guide is general and does not replace personal medical advice, especially during pregnancy or where there is chronic illness, immunosuppression or a history of an unusual reaction to a vaccine.

Who should get vaccinated, and why not wait until midwinter?

The Ministry of Health recommends seasonal vaccination and stresses its importance for people at risk of complications. These groups include young children, adults aged 65 and over, people with chronic conditions and pregnant women. The recommendation is not limited to higher-risk groups: others aged six months and over can also be vaccinated in accordance with the guidance and their medical suitability.

The Ministry of Health's information on flu vaccination, updated in August 2026, explains that the vaccine is adjusted each year for the strains expected in the coming season. Vaccination last winter therefore does not remove the need to check this year. The ministry's page for adults also notes that protection takes about two weeks to develop, so vaccination in autumn is recommended rather than waiting for a wave of illness at home.

Babies younger than six months do not receive the flu vaccine. In a household with a young baby, ask the medical team about vaccination for the people caring for the baby and appropriate preventive measures. Do not bring vaccination forward on your own initiative, even if the baby's date of birth is close to the age threshold.

It helps to separate the medical decision from the practical arrangements. Someone may belong to a group for whom vaccination is recommended and still need to find out which vaccine is suitable and where it is offered. An available appointment is an opportunity to receive a service, not automatic confirmation that every vaccine offered at the clinic suits every patient.

Injections, nasal spray and two doses for children

The Ministry of Health distinguishes between an inactivated vaccine given by injection from six months of age and a live attenuated nasal spray vaccine intended for ages two to 49, subject to medical suitability. Under the public guidance, the spray is not intended for pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems or people with asthma. A preference to avoid an injection is therefore not enough to choose it.

Checking vaccination history is especially important for children. Maccabi and Leumit explain that children up to and including age eight who have not previously received two flu vaccine doses may need two doses during the season, at least four weeks apart. Ask the team to check the record rather than relying on memories of a previous season.

The Ministry of Health lists school vaccination in grades two, three and four, and in grades one through six in special education. A dose at school does not necessarily complete the process for a child who needs a second dose. Keep the documentation and ask the health fund how to arrange the remaining dose, without scheduling the two too close together.

Parents should also distinguish between a general announcement of a school campaign and a record showing that their child was actually vaccinated. If the child was absent that day, consent was not received or a medical contraindication requires clarification, contact the school health team or health fund. Do not assume vaccination took place simply because the class participated in the campaign.

How to arrange vaccination with each of the four health funds

Clalit

Start with the clinic, Clalit's online appointment services or its 2700* call center. Clalit's system allows appointments for nursing services, but confirm that the appointment selected is for a flu vaccination and that the clinic vaccinates the relevant age group. A general nursing appointment does not guarantee stock of a particular vaccine.

When making contact, ask two separate questions: where vaccination is currently available, and whether a particular booking arrangement is required. The full list of this season's vaccines and their availability at each clinic was not verified here, so no promise is made about receiving a nasal spray or a particular vaccine. If the option does not appear online, the clinic can clarify how to access the service.

Maccabi

The eligibility page for the 2026 to 2027 season states that vaccination is free and does not require a doctor's referral. An appointment must be booked through Maccabi Online, the app or the 3555* call center. The service is provided at nursing clinics; check in advance whether family doctors' and pediatricians' clinics offer vaccination.

Each family member needs a separate appointment, even when attending together. Maccabi recommends bringing a vaccination record booklet, and a child attending for a further dose after school vaccination needs documentation of the first dose. The vaccine type depends on age, medical condition and stock.

Meuhedet

In its publication for the 2026 to 2027 season, Meuhedet says people can attend participating clinics for a flu vaccination without an appointment. The important word is "participating": this does not mean every clinic offers vaccination at all hours. Check the vaccination location and service hours before leaving.

If you need a dose for a child or a vaccine suitable for a particular medical condition, mention that in advance. This lets you establish whether the intended location provides the service required, rather than relying on the fact that it is a health fund branch. Walk-in access does not guarantee a particular waiting time.

Leumit

Leumit's flu page recommends booking an appointment. Its official appointment guide directs users to the app or personal account, then to "Book and manage appointments," followed by a new appointment and the service category "COVID-19 vaccination / flu vaccination." This is a system category, not an instruction to receive both vaccines together.

Because the general page does not provide a full seasonal breakdown verified for 2026 to 2027, confirm the location, suitability and stock with the clinic. When booking for someone else, make sure the appointment is registered in that person's name, not in the name of the family member using the app.

Steps to take before going for vaccination

• Check which household members want vaccination, their ages and any possible need for a medical assessment. Do not assume the same vaccine type suits the whole family.
• Find records of previous vaccinations, particularly children's flu vaccines. If records are missing, ask the clinic to check them before deciding how many doses are needed.
• Make arrangements according to the health fund's instructions and confirm the clinic address, time and service type. With Meuhedet, check which clinics accept walk-ins; with Maccabi, book an appointment for each person.
• Prepare identification and access to your health fund card, a vaccination booklet if available, and documentation of any dose received elsewhere. This is a useful preparation list, not a uniform list of mandatory documents published by all health funds.
• Tell the team about pregnancy, illnesses, treatments and previous vaccine reactions. If you have a fever or a change in your health, check before attending whether vaccination should be postponed.
• Before leaving, ask for confirmation of the vaccination and follow-up instructions. If a second dose is scheduled, write down when and where it will be given rather than relying on memory.

Allow time for the visit beyond the moment the vaccine is administered. Leumit specifies a 15-minute wait at the medical center afterward. Wherever you attend, follow the vaccination team's instructions on waiting and monitoring, especially if you have been given different individual instructions.

Older adults, pregnancy and situations requiring advance clarification

For people aged 65 and over, the importance of vaccination does not mean everyone is automatically entitled to every high-dose vaccine. Maccabi publishes specific medical eligibility conditions for it. Ask what suits your circumstances, rather than delaying a suitable vaccination because you heard about a different vaccine given to someone else.

During pregnancy, the Ministry of Health recommends the inactivated flu vaccine by injection. Public guidance also addresses women planning pregnancy and the period after childbirth. Anyone receiving ongoing treatment or other vaccines should tell the team; this guide should not be used to infer a personal schedule for all winter vaccinations.

Mild effects can occur after vaccination, such as pain at the injection site or feeling generally unwell. The Ministry of Health notes that most effects in children pass within a short time. An unusual effect, worsening symptoms or anything concerning warrants contacting a medical professional, rather than assuming every symptom must have been caused by the vaccine.

Common mistakes that make a simple task more complicated

The first mistake is waiting until someone at home is ill and then expecting immediate protection. Vaccination is preventive, and protection does not develop instantly. The second is assuming last year's vaccination or an earlier illness settles the question for the new season. The recommendation is seasonal, so check again.

Another mistake is applying one health fund's instructions to another. Meuhedet's advertised walk-in access does not remove Maccabi's appointment requirement. Nor does a screenshot of an available appointment show that a particular vaccine is available somewhere else. Use the information from the health fund and clinic where you intend to be vaccinated.

Finally, choosing a vaccine should not become a product comparison. Age, medical condition and vaccination history come before a preference for an injection or spray. A successful visit ends not only with a dose, but also with a clear record and an understanding of whether another step is needed. That is the difference between "we went for vaccination" and completing the process in accordance with the guidance.