Flu Vaccine in Pakistan 2026: Who Should Get It, Where and When
Flu season in Pakistan runs November to April. Who NIH says should get the flu vaccine first, where to get it, what it costs, and flu symptoms to watch for.
Pakistan's flu season runs from about November to April, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Islamabad. NIH says vaccination is the most effective way to prevent flu, especially for pregnant women, children, older people and anyone with a long-term illness. Get this season's vaccine before the winter peak.
Every winter the same pattern repeats. A cough goes round the office, then the children bring it home, and an elderly parent ends up far sicker than anyone else. Seasonal flu is common. For some people it is dangerous.
NIH has not issued a new influenza advisory for the 2026-27 season yet. The latest one is from 15 December 2025, and we read it in full. This guide uses it, and we will update it when a new advisory comes out.
Flu cases rose early in Pakistan last season
NIH counted 340,856 suspected cases of influenza-like illness across Pakistan between epidemiological weeks 44 and 49 of 2025, roughly November to early December. Of the samples tested, 12% were positive for H3N2, a strain of influenza A.
The December 2025 advisory said a new version of H3N2, called subclade K, had spread around the world. It noted a sharp rise in H3N2 cases from August 2025 in several regions. NIH called it an "unprecedented upsurge before the expected season".
NIH also gave its reasons why the flu season in Pakistan "can be severe". It pointed to limited access to health care, weak infection control in some settings and low health awareness. That is the health authority's own assessment, not ours.
For 2026-27, NIH's plan is to watch closely from October. Its advisory says enhanced surveillance of flu-like illness from October onwards gives the best chance to catch outbreaks early.
These groups should get the flu vaccine first
NIH quotes the World Health Organization's priority list for the flu vaccine. Pregnant women come first. Then children, older people, people with long-term medical conditions, and health workers. NIH says vaccination is the most effective way to prevent infection and serious illness.
The advisory also lists the people most at risk of serious flu complications:
| Group | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Pregnant women | Highest priority for the vaccine in the WHO list NIH cites |
| Adults aged 65 and over | Higher risk of severe illness |
| Children under 5 | Higher risk of severe illness |
| Diabetes, heart or lung disease | Chronic illness raises the risk |
| Weak immunity, such as during chemotherapy | The body fights infection less well |
| People who are obese | Listed by NIH as higher risk |
| Health workers | Exposed at work and can pass it to patients |
NIH says plainly that the vaccine still helps even when the virus changes. In its words, "despite genetic drift, vaccination reduces severity of illness and mortality."
If you have a condition like diabetes, ask your own doctor before the season starts. They can tell you whether the vaccine suits you.
Where to get the flu vaccine in Pakistan and what it costs
The flu vaccine is mainly sold through private hospitals, clinics and pharmacies in Pakistan. The price varies by brand, city and whether a clinic charges to give the injection. We found no official national price, so ask before you pay.
The federal Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) vaccinates children from birth to 15 months against 12 diseases, and also covers pregnant women. Influenza was not among the diseases listed on its website when we checked. So do not expect the flu shot at a routine EPI centre the way you would get the free HPV vaccine for girls.
If you work in a hospital, ask your infection control team first. Health workers are on the WHO priority list, so your employer may already have a plan.
Before you get the injection, check these points:
- Check the season. The pack should be for the current northern hemisphere season. WHO changes the vaccine mix every year.
- Check the expiry date on the box.
- Check storage. Vaccines must be kept cold. Buy from a pharmacy that keeps them in a fridge.
- Tell the doctor or nurse if you are pregnant, have had a reaction to a vaccine before, or have a severe egg allergy. NIH's advisory refers to an egg-based vaccine.
- Keep the record of the date and brand for next year.
For the 2025-26 season, NIH listed WHO's recommended vaccine mix for the northern hemisphere, including Pakistan. It covers two influenza A strains, H1N1 and H3N2, and one influenza B strain.
Flu symptoms and when to see a doctor
NIH defines influenza-like illness as a fever of 38°C or more with a cough, starting within the last 10 days. Most people recover with rest and fluids. See a doctor quickly if symptoms do not settle, or at once if you are in a high-risk group.
NIH says flu is usually self-limiting, so treatment is mainly supportive. But it can turn severe fast in high-risk people. When a patient needs hospital care, NIH calls it severe acute respiratory infection.
The advisory recommends the antiviral oseltamivir, sold as Tamiflu, for hospitalised patients with severe or worsening illness, and for high-risk groups. Only a doctor should decide this. Do not buy it on your own.
Go to hospital the same day if someone has trouble breathing, cannot keep fluids down, or is getting worse instead of better. A high fever with body aches can also be dengue in autumn, so a doctor may ask for a blood test.
How to stop flu spreading at home and work
NIH recommends washing hands often with soap and water, or using sanitiser. Cover your mouth and nose with your elbow when you cough or sneeze. Sick people should stay home, rest and avoid crowds until they recover.
Flu spreads through droplets when people cough, sneeze or talk, and through touching surfaces and then your face, according to NIH. Crowded rooms with poor air flow make it worse.
- Keep a sick child home from school until the fever has gone.
- Open windows where you can.
- Do not share cups or towels with a sick person.
Winter in Punjab also brings smog season, which irritates the lungs. People with asthma or lung disease face both at once, so they have extra reason to get vaccinated early.
Common questions
When is flu season in Pakistan?
NIH says cases rise particularly in winter, from November to April. Last season, cases started rising earlier than expected.
Is the flu vaccine free in Pakistan?
Not as part of routine immunisation. Influenza was not listed among the diseases covered on the federal EPI website when we checked. Most people buy it privately.
How much does the flu vaccine cost in Pakistan?
It varies by brand, city and clinic. We found no official price, so ask the pharmacy or hospital before you pay.
Should pregnant women get the flu vaccine?
Yes. The WHO priority list NIH cites puts pregnant women first. Talk to your doctor about the timing.
Do I need a flu vaccine every year?
Yes. WHO updates the vaccine mix each year to match the strains expected, so last year's shot is not enough.
Has NIH issued a flu advisory for 2026-27?
Not yet. On 30 September 2026, the latest influenza advisory on NIH's website was dated December 2025.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked on 30 September 2026. We read the full NIH advisory for the prevention and control of seasonal influenza (H3N2), No. F.1-22/Advisory/CDC/2025, dated 15 December 2025, for the season, the case numbers, the risk groups, the vaccine advice, the case definition and the treatment advice. We checked NIH's advisories list and found no 2026-27 influenza advisory. We read the federal EPI website for what its routine programme covers. We found no official source for the price of the flu vaccine or a list of places that stock it, so we have not stated a price. This is general health information, not medical advice. Ask a doctor about your own situation.
About the author
Public Services and Education Journalist
Fajr Riaz is a journalist and content writer at Pakistan Era, based in Lahore. She covers the questions people meet in everyday life in Pakistan: how a public service works, what a change in the rules means, and where to find a reliable answer.
