Flu and Shingles Vaccines

Flu Vaccine

The flu vaccine is now available for 2018.

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 family doctor.

Shingles Vaccine

From 1 April 2018, one dose of Zostavax will be funded for adults aged 65 years. A ‘catch-up’ programme will be available for the first two years, for people aged from 66–80 years inclusively. If you are interested please see one of our nurses to discuss if it is safe for you to have.