You can now make an appointment to receive your flu vaccine. Anyone aged 6 months or older can have a flu vaccine.
Children under 9yrs old who are receiving a flu vaccine for the 1st time will require 2 doses spaced by at least 4 weeks.
It is safe to have your flu vaccine at the same time as other vaccines including Shingles and COVID vaccines.
Influenza vaccine strains
For 2023, of the four influenza strains included in the quadrivalent vaccines, the one in bold listed below is new:
- A/Sydney/5/2021 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus
- A/Darwin/9/2021 (H3N2)-like virus
- B/Austria/1359417/2021-like virus
- B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus
The vaccines used this year are
- Afluria Quad (3yrs+)
- Afluria Quad Junior (6months – 35months)
- Fluad Quad* (65yr+ not funded.)
*Fluad Quad is a vaccine that is available to purchase, as an alternative to Afluria Quad, for individuals aged 65yrs and older. This vaccine contains an adjuvant which causes a stronger immune response. Please let the receptionist know if you wish to have this vaccine instead as it may need to be ordered in.
In 2023, flu vaccines are free for:
- children aged 6 months to 12 years old
- pregnant people
- Māori and Pacific people over 55
- people aged 65 and over
- people with underlying health conditions including heart disease, cancer, diabetes and serious asthma
- people with significant mental illness such as schizophrenia or those currently accessing mental health services.
Check the Ministry of Health website for more specific info about who can receive a free flu vaccine
If you are not eligible for a free, you can buy one. The cost for this is $40.
Pregnancy
Pregnant woman and their baby are at very high risk of complications from catching the flu. The Flu vaccine is safe to give at any stage of pregnancy and is highly recommended, it can also provide protection for baby for up to 6 months after their birth.
For more information on influenza and flu vaccines then see below here.