Annual influenza immunisation is recommended to provide protection from the predominant circulating influenza strains. The vaccine should be given before the influenza season in New Zealand.

The World Health Organization monitors influenza illness throughout the year and make recommendations on which three influenza types are likely to cause the most illness in the northern and in the southern hemisphere during their respective influenza seasons. Vaccine ingredients are specific to the brand of influenza vaccine they are associated with and may vary to year. Specific information on ingredients in the vaccines use each season can be found on the individual vaccine datasheets.

Influenza immunisation is recommended and offered free in the Pharmacy to:

• Pregnant women (any trimester)
• People aged 65 years or older
• People aged under 65 years with a medical condition that increases their risk of developing complications from influenza, and the condition is specified in the Influenza Immunisation Programme eligibility criteria.
• Children aged 13 years or older who have been hospitalised for respiratory illness or who have a history of significant respiratory illness.

Healthy children and non-pregnant healthy adults under the age of 65 years can purchase the influenza vaccine for administration in the pharmacy (children must be aged 13 years or older).