Free Flu Vaccine in Bangkok: 7 High-Risk Groups Invited for Shots from May 1 – August 31, 2026

Bangkok is offering free influenza vaccinations to seven high-risk groups starting May 1, 2025, with the program running until August 31, 2025, as part of a nationwide public health initiative to prevent the spread of seasonal flu.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) announced the campaign, which provides free flu shots at public health centers across the city for individuals in the designated high-risk categories.

The initiative is being carried out in collaboration with the National Health Security Office (NHSO), which has procured and distributed vaccines based on the latest World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for the circulating influenza strains.

The vaccines being administered protect against three specific strains of the influenza virus: A (H1N1), A (H3N2) and B (Victoria lineage), as confirmed by health officials overseeing the program.

A total of 4.57 million doses have been prepared and distributed nationwide to support the vaccination drive, ensuring availability at participating medical facilities.

The seven high-risk groups eligible for free vaccination include pregnant women, particularly those between 12 and 20 weeks of gestation (though vaccination is considered safe throughout pregnancy), children aged 6 months to 2 years, and individuals with chronic health conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, diabetes, and cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Additional eligible groups are people aged 65 and over, individuals with neurological conditions that impair self-care, those with thalassemia or weakened immune systems—including people living with symptomatic HIV—and individuals with obesity, defined as weighing more than 100 kilograms or having a body mass index (BMI) greater than 35 kg/m².

Health authorities are urging members of these groups to get vaccinated early, noting that the Department of Disease Control anticipates a potential rise in influenza cases due to seasonal weather patterns, and emphasizing that vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent serious illness during the flu season.

Residents of Bangkok can verify participating service units through the Pao Tang app, specifically in the Health Wallet section, or by contacting the NHSO hotline for assistance. Vaccination slots can also be reserved via the same app or by phone.

The program operates on a first-come, first-served basis due to limited vaccine quantities, and officials encourage eligible individuals to seek vaccination promptly at authorized locations, including government hospitals, subdistrict health promotion hospitals, and public health centers throughout Bangkok.