On Monday 12 October 2026, Luxembourg’s Ministry of Health and Social Security announced the launch of the third edition of its campaign to prevent respiratory infections, under the slogan “A respiratory infection is anything but trendy”.

The ministry said that with the arrival of the winter season and the start of the circulation of seasonal respiratory viruses, the campaign raises public awareness of the risks associated with influenza, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis, whooping cough and pneumococcal pneumonia. It also highlights available preventive measures, as these infections can lead to serious complications in the most vulnerable people.

The 2026 campaign focuses on vaccination and a new nasal spray flu vaccine for children

Although preventive measures remain important, vaccination is still the most effective way to prevent severe illness and protect loved ones and others. New this year, children aged two to seventeen inclusive can receive the flu vaccine free of charge as a nasal spray, directly during a consultation with their general practitioner or paediatrician.

Flu vaccination: protecting children and healthcare workers

Flu in children is usually mild, but it is not always harmless. It often means that a sick child has to stay at home, away from school, nursery and their usual activities, generally for several days. Flu vaccination for children is therefore a simple way to limit these episodes and their impact on school attendance and family life.

As it does not involve an injection, the nasal spray vaccine is more readily accepted by children and their parents than the injectable vaccine, as several studies have shown. Beyond individual protection, it also helps limit transmission of the virus within families and among close contacts, particularly to the most vulnerable people. By protecting your child, you also protect others.

As a reminder, the ministry emphasised that vaccination with the standard injectable flu vaccine will remain an option if the child and/or their parents prefer it, if there is a contraindication to the intranasal vaccine, or if supplies of the nasal spray vaccine are exhausted. In these cases, the injectable vaccine will be available free of charge from pharmacies on presentation of a medical prescription, as was the case during the 2025–2026 winter season.

Healthcare professionals and all other care staff who have regular contact with patients are also key players. Getting vaccinated is both a measure of individual protection and an act of responsibility towards the people they care for every day. Indeed, a flu infection can cause severe complications and hospital admissions and may even be life-threatening for vulnerable people.

More broadly, high vaccination coverage helps reduce the circulation of the virus in the population and therefore eases pressure on the healthcare system, particularly in relation to medical consultations and visits to emergency departments. The ministry stressed: “Protecting yourself also means protecting others.”

RSV: also a risk for older people

Although often associated with bronchiolitis in infants, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can also cause severe infections in older people. These may affect the lungs, worsen an existing heart or lung condition, or lead to acute respiratory distress that can result in hospitalisation or death.

An RSV vaccine is available for older people who are most at risk of complications. It is covered for people aged 75 and over, particularly those living in residential care, as well as for people aged 65 and over who have a comorbidity that increases their risk of developing a severe RSV infection. People are advised to consult their GP for information on receiving the vaccine.

Maintaining good habits

In addition to vaccination, the ministry issued a reminder that everyone can help limit the spread of respiratory infections by adopting simple measures:

- Wash your hands regularly with soap and water.

- Ventilate rooms daily, even in cold weather.

- Avoid close contact with vulnerable people if you have symptoms.

- Wear a mask if you have a cough or fever, or when visiting healthcare facilities.

- Cough or sneeze into your elbow rather than your hand to avoid spreading germs onto surfaces and objects you touch.

Weekly reports resume publication

Since October, Luxembourg’s Health Directorate has resumed publishing weekly reports on the evolution of respiratory infections during the winter season. These reports are published every week and can be consulted on the santesecu.lu website.