Ground floor, Ilam Health Building, 110 Memorial Avenue, Burnside, Christchurch : Ph 03 351 6198 :

March 20th, 2024

Flu Vaccination Clinics available

We have clinics open for bookings from Tuesday 2nd April, 2024. Please call reception to make an appointment, or book through your online Portal account.

 

We will be running our annual drop-in influenza vaccination clinic for those aged ≥ 65 years on Saturday 6th April, 2024. People in this age group will receive notification about this closer to the time.
Note: We will only be providing the funded influenza vaccine at this clinic.

 

Why is the influenza vaccination important this year?

This year, as COVID-19 restrictions ease and borders reopen, it can be expected that a resurgence of respiratory viruses will follow, including influenza. During COVID-19 outbreaks, influenza vaccination is important, as the co-circulation of both diseases leads to an increased risk of serious illness if both viruses are caught whilst unvaccinated.

 

Eligibility:

The influenza vaccine is recommended and funded for people who meet the eligibility criteria, as set by PHARMAC. Note, this has narrowed slightly from last year and only includes:

– Pregnant people

– People aged 65 years and older

– People aged 6 months to under 65 years with eligible conditions*

– People aged 6 months to under 65 years with serious mental health and addiction conditions*

– Tamariki aged 4 years or under who have been hospitalised for respiratory illness (including measles) or have a history of significant respiratory illness.

*For more details on eligibility, please refer to Influenza vaccine – Immunisation Advisory Centre (immune.org.nz)

The Vaccines Available This Year:

Age Vaccine Dose Number of doses Cost per dose
(If not eligible for a funded vaccine)
6 months to under 65 years Influvac Tetra 0.5mL 1 or 2* $26
≥ 65 years Influvac Tetra
(Funded option)		 0.5mL 1 N/A
(This is funded for all in this age group).
Fluad Quad
(Non-funded option)**		 0.5mL 1 $40

 

*Tamariki aged 6 months to under 9 years who are receiving the influenza vaccine for the first time should receive two doses, at least 4 weeks apart.

**Fluad Quad is available for purchase for those aged ≥ 65 years.
As we age, our immune system becomes less effective. This vaccine is designed to promote a stronger immune response, and so is potentially more effective for people in this age group.
We have limited stock, so please let reception know when making your booking if you wish to purchase this vaccine and we can put one aside for you, or order one in.

 

For 2024, the influenza strains included in the quadrivalent vaccines are:

  • A/Victoria/4897/2022 (H1N1) pdm09-like virus
  • B/Austria/1359417/2021-like virus
  • A/Thailand/8/2022 (H3N2)-like virus
  • B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus

COVID-19 and the Influenza Vaccination

It is safe to have the Influenza vaccination at the same time as all COVID-19 vaccinations, however Novovax contains adjuvants to boost the immune response, so please let the nurse know if you have recently had a Novuvax Covid vaccination (Note: this is not the standard covid vaccination). Please refer to the listed websites for information, or call to discuss any concerns or queries with a nurse before booking your appointment.

If you have had COVID-19, and are no longer isolating, there is no stand-down period required before having your influenza vaccination.

 

 

For more information, please refer to the following website:

Influenza_2024_Flu kit – Factsheets – Immunisation Advisory Centre (immune.org.nz)