Flu Vaccination

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 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 4 years or under who have been hospitalised for respiratory illness or who have a history of significant respiratory illness.
• Children and young people aged from 6 months to under 18 years who are living within the following earthquake impacted areas:
  • Seddon/Ward and rural Eastern Marlborough (Nelson Marlborough DHB) and Kaikoura and Hurunui (Canterbury DHB).
• Children and young people aged from 6 months to under 18 years who have been displaced from their homes in Edgecumbe and the surrounding region (Bay of plenty District Health Board).

Healthy children and non-pregnant healthy adults under the age of 65 years can purchase the influenza vaccine through their pharmacy or family doctor.

Responses to vaccine

Influenza vaccines

Common Responses

Responses are more common in children not previously exposed to the vaccine or virus than in adults.

• Mild pain, redness and swelling around injection site
• Unwell or tired
• Fever
• Muscle pain

Rare Responses

 As with any medicine, very rarely a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) can occur following immunisation.