As the 2025/26 flu season approaches, healthcare teams across the UK are gearing up to deliver one of the NHS’s most important annual vaccination programmes. Every year, seasonal influenza places huge demands on the health service, increasing pressures in primary care, pharmacies, care homes, and hospitals. For frontline staff, being fully prepared is essential, not only to ensure patient safety but also to feel confident and competent when clinics become busy.
At Health Academy, we know that immunisers need more than just a theoretical update. They need practical skills, real-world preparation, and the reassurance that they are aligned with the latest NHSE and UKHSA guidance. That’s why our Flu 2025/26 Practical Workshops have been developed as focused, half-day training sessions that bring together clinical updates, hands-on practice, and emergency preparedness.
These workshops are not simply “refresher courses.” They are designed to help new and experienced immunisers alike build confidence, refresh core skills, and leave ready to step into the upcoming flu season with assurance.
Why Attend a Flu Vaccine Workshop?
Flu vaccination remains one of the most effective public health measures we have for protecting vulnerable populations and reducing winter pressures on the NHS. However, delivering the programme effectively requires more than knowledge of eligibility and guidelines. Immunisers must also master correct administration techniques, understand the latest vaccine products, be prepared for emergencies such as anaphylaxis, and manage clinics under pressure.
Our workshops bring all of this together in one concise but comprehensive session. Suitable for nurses, pharmacists, healthcare support workers, pharmacy technicians and any professional involved in delivering vaccines. The training is designed for both seasoned vaccinators and those newer to flu campaigns. For new immunisers, the session can be combined with our online New to Immunising Foundation Course, ensuring full compliance with the National Minimum Standards and Core Curriculum for Vaccination Training.
By attending, participants gain not only the technical skills but also the confidence to handle common challenges, from anxious patients to busy waiting rooms.
What Happens During the Training?
Each workshop runs for 3.5 hours, with both morning (9:00–12:30) and afternoon (13:30–17:00) sessions available. The structure is deliberately practical and interactive, offering the chance to refresh core competencies while engaging with scenarios that reflect real-world clinical practice.
The session covers an overview of the National Minimum Standards and Core Curriculum for Vaccination Training, ensuring every participant is aligned with the core principles of safe practice. From there, delegates move into emergency preparedness, completing a Level 2 Basic Life Support (BLS) practical and training in the recognition and management of Anaphylaxis. These elements provide the confidence to respond effectively if emergencies arise in a clinic setting.
Next, attention turns to the practicalities of vaccine administration. Participants revisit safe vaccine storage, handling, and preparation before moving on to injection technique. Both intramuscular (IM) and subcutaneous (SC) methods are demonstrated and practised, alongside the correct technique for administering the nasal flu vaccine. Trainers provide individual feedback on posture, positioning, and technique throughout. This practical component is consistently highlighted in feedback as one of the most valuable aspects of the course.
To bring the training together, the session focuses on the flu programme itself. Trainers outline the latest updates for the 2025/26 season, covering eligibility criteria, contraindications and precautions, storage and handling, co-administration guidance, and the full range of available flu vaccine products. This ensures every attendee leaves with an up-to-date understanding of the NHS priorities, latest guidance and the confidence to deliver the programme in their own setting.
The workshop also ends with some common scenarios in practice and a Q&A, giving participants the chance to clarify issues from their own practice.
Which Vaccines Are Covered?
The workshops include a detailed overview of all the flu vaccines available in the UK for the 2025/26 season. These include:
- Live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV)
- Cell cultured inactivated influenza vaccine (IIVc)
- Recombinant inactivated influenza vaccine (IIVr)
- High-dose inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV-HD)
- Adjuvanted inactivated influenza vaccine (aIIV)
- Standard egg cultured inactivated influenza vaccine (IIVe)
Alongside this, every workshop booking includes free access to our Seasonal Influenza and Covid-19 e-learning modules, ensuring participants have online resources to complement the face-to-face training.
How the Workshops Prepare You for Flu Season
By the end of the session, attendees leave with:
- A clear understanding of the 2025/26 flu programme, including vaccine products, eligibility, and co-administration.
- Refined skills in vaccine administration, injection technique, and patient positioning.
- Emergency preparedness through hands-on BLS and anaphylaxis training.
- Practical strategies for managing busy clinics, supporting anxious patients, and avoiding common pitfalls.
- A CPD certificate to support revalidation and compliance with NHSE and UKHSA standards.
For healthcare professionals, this preparation is essential. It means entering flu season ready to deliver safe, efficient, and confident care to patients.
Upcoming Dates and Locations
Workshops are running across the UK this autumn, with sessions scheduled in:
- Manchester (21st September 2025)
- Newcastle (21st September 2025)
- Bristol (21st September 2025)
- Birmingham (21st September 2025)
- Cardiff (28th September 2025)
- Croydon (5th October 2025)
- Southampton (5th October 2025)
More locations may be added depending on demand. Seats are limited at each venue, with morning and afternoon sessions available.
What Attendees Say
Feedback from past participants highlights the value of these sessions:
⭐ “Amazing session, amazing teacher, very knowledgeable and taught content in an easy way”
⭐ “Trainer was very informative. She delivered the course excellently”
⭐ “Interesting, lots of information. Clear content. Excellent tutor”
⭐ “Nice group size, relaxed setting. Clear concise information. Not boring or overloaded with info”
These testimonials underline what makes the workshops so effective: expert trainers, practical learning, and a supportive environment.
Can’t Attend Face-to-Face?
For those unable to join in person, Health Academy also offers Live Zoom Flu Training Sessions and On-Demand Flu E-Learning. Both provide the same up-to-date content and CPD accreditation, with the flexibility to fit around busy schedules.
Final Call: Be Ready for Flu Season
With the winter flu season fast approaching, there has never been a better time to update your knowledge and refresh your skills. Our Flu Vaccine Workshops are designed to ensure every immuniser feels prepared, confident, and compliant.
Seats are limited and filling quickly. Secure your place today and step into flu season ready to protect patients, support your team, and reduce pressures on the NHS.
👉 Find your nearest Flu Vaccine Workshop and book now.
