The flu vaccination campaign began in Romagna on Monday, October 12. Doses are available through participating family doctors and pediatricians, Ausl health services, and partner pharmacies taking part in the initiative. The vaccine is free for people aged 60 and over and for other categories identified by the Emilia-Romagna Region.
“Flu vaccination is recommended and offered free of charge to people aged 60 or older, to pregnant women regardless of gestational age, and to those who have just given birth,” explains Ausl Romagna. Free access also extends to people aged between 6 months and 59 years with chronic conditions that put them at high risk of flu-related complications or hospitalization, to those living with vulnerable individuals, and to healthy children between 6 months and 6 years old.
The vaccine is also free for residents of care homes and long-term care facilities of any age, doctors and healthcare workers (including trainees), employees of essential public services, blood donors, volunteers in the health and social care sector, and anyone who, through their work, comes into contact with animals that could transmit non-human flu viruses.
To get vaccinated at the Ausl clinics for adults, booking is required through Cup, Cuptel, or the CUP Web/Fascicolo Sanitario (online health record portal). Pregnant women, however, can access “walk-in flu vaccination without a Cup booking or a doctor’s referral at all Public Hygiene Service clinics across Romagna,” during opening hours.
Minors with chronic illnesses will be contacted directly by Community Pediatrics. Healthy children aged 6 months to 6 years can turn to their pediatrician, if participating in the campaign, or to Community Pediatrics. For children aged 2 to 6, a nasal spray flu vaccine will also be available.
Vaccination at participating pharmacies is available to adults who have already received similar types of vaccines and are deemed eligible following an assessment. Those who do not fall into the free-of-charge categories can still request the vaccine from their family doctor or at a pharmacy, covering the cost of the vaccine and the service themselves.
“Once again this year, upon request, co-administration of the flu vaccine with the Covid-19 vaccine is available; the updated vaccine against current variants is also on offer,” the Ausl notes. Covid vaccination alone can be carried out at adult and pediatric vaccination clinics or through a general practitioner, if participating in the campaign.
In the 2025/2026 season, vaccine coverage among people over 65 in the Ausl Romagna area stood at 53.6%, down from 55.6% the previous year. A total of 221,611 vaccinations were administered by general practitioners and health services, compared with 221,610 during the 2024/2025 campaign.
The Region is supporting the start of the vaccination drive with the campaign “Don’t pass it on. Take a stand against the flu. Reduce its spread, its most severe symptoms, and the risk of complications.” Ausl also reminds the public to cover their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, wear surgical masks especially if showing respiratory symptoms, avoid close contact with sick individuals, wash their hands or use an alcohol-based virucidal solution when water isn’t available, and avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth.
