The NHS in England is significantly increasing the number of mobile and walk-in vaccination clinics in 2026 as part of a concerted effort to boost immunisation rates for flu, COVID-19, and routine vaccines. This strategy directly addresses the challenges of limited traditional appointment access and declining vaccination uptake seen in recent years.
These new clinics are designed for maximum public convenience and to tackle health inequalities. By offering no-appointment-needed services in accessible public spaces, such as town centres, supermarkets, and hospital entrances, the NHS is removing key barriers like transport issues, work commitments, and limited GP availability.
Mobile vaccination vans are already in operation in regions like the Black Country (Sandwell, Wolverhampton, Walsall, and Dudley) this winter, providing a comprehensive range of jabs, including: Flu, MMR (measles, mumps and rubella), RSV (for older adults and pregnant women), Pertussis (whooping cough for pregnant women), and COVID-19 (for eligible groups). In the south-east of England, "roving vaccination vans" have also been deployed specifically to address an intense and early flu season, taking vaccines directly to communities with low coverage.
Building on the successful outreach models developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, these community vaccination drives are crucial for reaching "hard-to-reach" populations. This includes individuals in areas with reduced local health infrastructure, fewer pharmacies, or poor access to GPs. Local NHS teams are adapting these lessons to address persistent inequalities in uptake for all types of vaccines.
The introduction of mobile clinics and other pilots, such as in-home vaccination programmes, is part of a wider NHS strategy for 2026 that incorporates diverse delivery models. These models, which include GP surgeries, pharmacies, community hubs, and schools, aim to enhance convenience and seize every opportunity to vaccinate. This push is vital, as uptake for routine childhood vaccines like MMR has fallen to its lowest level in over a decade, raising significant public health concerns about outbreaks of preventable diseases.
The message from NHS England is straightforward: walk-in mobile clinics offer an easy, vital way to stay protected this winter and throughout the year ahead. Given the ongoing circulation of multiple viruses, including flu, RSV, and COVID-19, maximising vaccine accessibility remains a critical public health priority for protecting vulnerable groups. NHS leaders are closely monitoring the data, and if these outreach programmes prove successful, they are likely to become a permanent fixture of England’s vaccination landscape.
