We are now taking bookings for flu vaccines! You can make an appointment for your 2024 flu vaccine for Tues 2 April onwards. Please read on for more important information about: 

• 2024 flu vaccine bookings 

• 2024 flu vaccine options - and see attached PDF of flu vaccine comparisons for more info  

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about flu vaccines 

• 2024 eligibility criteria for funded flu vaccines - or see attached PDF

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Flu vaccine bookings

As usual we will be running dedicated flu vaccine clinics with 5 minute appointments for people aged 12 years and over and 15 minutes appointments for tamariki aged under 12 years.

However, please note that we will be keeping flu vaccine-only bookings and other nurse bookings completely separate this year, and dedicated flu vaccine clinics will be on Mon, Tues, Wed only.

Please see the booking scenarios below. 

1. Booking for flu vaccine only for an individual or multiple adults: you will be booked into the dedicated flu vaccine clinic, which is available Mon, Tues, Wed only. 

2. Booking for flu vaccine only on behalf of whānau/multiple tamariki under 12 years: please call our nurse line rather than reception, as our nurses will work out with you the amount of time needed for all of you. 

3. Booking to see a nurse for something but would like to get flu vaccine too: you will be booked into our usual nurse clinic. Standard nurse appointment fees apply plus the price of your flu vaccine.

4. Booking to see a doctor but would like to get flu vaccine too: your doctor can give you your flu vaccine. Standard GP appointment fees apply plus the price of your flu vaccine.

This change to the way we manage our flu vaccine bookings means that there may not be as much availability or flexibility in appointment times for your flu vaccine as you are used to. But we appreciate your understanding as we are making this change to better support our nurses and ensure their workload is manageable.

We realise that it may be frustrating if you are unable to book in as soon as you would like for your flu vaccine – but while it is important to receive your flu vaccine, it is okay to wait a little extra time for this if need be.

Or if you’re really keen to get your flu vaccine as soon as possible and we can’t fit you in, most pharmacies will also be offering flu vaccinations.

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Flu vaccine options

The funded flu vaccine this year is called Influvac Tetra and is available to everyone aged 6 months and older who meet the eligibility criteria; we have included a list of the 2024 eligibility criteria at the bottom of this post, or see the attached PDF. 

Influvac Tetra is also available to purchase for those who don’t meet the eligibility criteria for the funded vaccine.

There is also an alternative non-funded flu vaccine available. For those aged 6 months to 64 years this vaccine is called Flucelvax. For those aged 65+ years this vaccine is called FLUAD Quad.

Please see the attached PDF of flu vaccine comparisons for more information on these. 

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Influenza (flu) Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

I’m fit and well – should I still get the flu vaccine?

Yes!

The flu can be a serious and deadly illness. More than 500 people die from the flu in Aotearoa every year and thousands more are hospitalized. Even if you feel you’re fit and well, you can still suffer serious illness from the flu and/or pass it on to someone more vulnerable.

Getting the flu vaccine helps to protect yourself AND your whānau and wider community against influenza.

Why do I need to get another flu vaccine every year?

The protection given to you by the flu vaccine wanes in less than a year.

There are also many different strains of the influenza virus, and the most common strains circulating change from year to year. The annual flu vaccines are specially manufactured to protect you against the four most-common strains for that year.

Can my tamariki get the flu vaccine?

Yes – the flu vaccine is safe for use in pēpi and tamariki aged 6 months and older.

If your child is aged between 6 months and 9 years old and it’s their first time ever receiving a flu vaccine then they will need two doses given at least four weeks apart.

Can the flu vaccine give me the flu?

No. The flu virus used in the flu vaccine is inactivated, meaning it’s not live and you cannot get the flu from it.

I got the flu vaccine but still caught the flu, so why should I get the vaccine again?

There are a number of reasons why you might still catch the flu even after getting the flu vaccine:

• It takes up to two weeks for the vaccine to reach its full effect and you may catch the flu within that period

• The vaccine is not 100% effective in preventing the flu

• You may catch a less-common strain that the vaccine doesn’t protect against

• Some common responses to the vaccine may seem flu-like but are not actually the flu

However, it’s still very important that you get the vaccine! Even if it doesn’t stop you from getting the flu, the flu vaccine significantly reduces your risk of serious flu-related complications or needing hospitalization.

If I can’t afford or don’t want to pay for the more expensive flu vaccine, is there any point in getting the “standard” flu vaccine instead?

Absolutely. While the more expensive flu vaccines can offer greater protection against the flu, the “standard” flu vaccine is still a very effective vaccine that will give you significant protection.

Can I book my whānau into one appointment?

We will do our best to see enrolled members of your whānau at the same time - but please call our nurse line to discuss with one of our nurses how many family members you would like to book and their ages, as this will help the nurse work out how much time they will need with you and your whānau. Vaccinations with tamariki can be more difficult and take more time - plus the nurse needs time to cover the required information about the flu vaccine and answer any questions you may have.

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Eligibility Criteria for funded flu vaccine (Influvac Tetra)

Please note that, unfortunately, funded vaccines are not available this year for some of the groups they have been funded for in previous years. This includes Māori and Pacific people aged 55-64 years and tamariki aged 6 months-12 years; people in these groups are now only eligible for a funded flu vaccine if they meet any of the criteria below.

You or members of your whānau are eligible to receive the funded (free) flu vaccine if any of the following conditions apply, as set by Pharmac:

1.       all people 65 years of age and over; or

2.       people under 65 years of age (including tamariki) who:

i.         have any of the following cardiovascular diseases:

a.       ischaemic heart disease, or

b.       congestive heart failure, or

c.        rheumatic heart disease, or

d.       congenital heart disease, or

e.       cerebo-vascular disease; or

ii.       have either of the following chronic respiratory diseases:

a.       asthma, if on a regular preventative therapy, or

b.       other chronic respiratory disease with impaired lung function; or

iii.      have diabetes; or

iv.      have chronic renal disease; or

v.        have any cancer, excluding basal and squamous skin cancers if not invasive; or

vi.      have any of the following other conditions:

a.       autoimmune disease, or

b.       immune suppression or immune deficiency, or

c.        HIV, or

d.       transplant recipients, or

e.       neuromuscular and CNS diseases/disorders, or

f.         haemoglobinopathies, or

g.       have a cochlear implant, or

h.       errors of metabolism at risk of major metabolic decompensation, or

i.         pre and post splenectomy, or

j.         Down syndrome, or

k.        are pregnant; or

3.       people under 65 years of age who:

i.         have any of the following serious mental health conditions:

a.       schizophrenia, or

b.       major depressive disorder, or

c.        bipolar disorder, or

d.       schizoaffective disorder, or

e.       are currently accessing secondary or tertiary mental health and addiction services; or

4.       tamariki who:

i.         are on long term aspirin, or

ii.       are 4 years of age and under who have been hospitalised for respiratory illness or have a history of significant respiratory illness