2018 Influenza Season

This website and the national annual influenza promotional campaign is brought to you by The Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC) and the National Influenza Strategy Group (NISG).

Influenza Immunisation Programme goals

• Vaccinate 75% of the population aged 65 years or older against influenza annually
• Improve influenza immunisation coverage for people aged under 65 years with certain medical conditions, and pregnant women
• Improve influenza immunisation uptake for healthcare workers
• 80% of District Health Board-based healthcare workers are vaccinated against influenza annually
• Distribute more than 1.2 million influenza vaccine doses annually, i.e. protect more than 25% of the community
 

Important Information

2018 Influenza Kit - the kits are in the process of being distributed.  The envelope clearly states 'ENCLOSED new funded shingles vaccine information leaflet & 2018 Influenza Kit'.  If your organisation receives a kit for the attention of a person that is no longer or not associated with your organisation, please retain the information enclosed for your use.

References for 2018 Influenza Kit

2018 Vaccine Order Form

Two funded quadrivalent influenza vaccines for 2018:

INFLUVAC® TETRA
For adults and children aged 3 years or older. Distributuion of INFLUVAC® TETRA commenced on 3 April 2018. Please do not book your clinics before the stock has arrived.

FLUARIX® TETRA
For children aged under 3 years, i.e. 6–35 months. Distribution of this vaccine is expected to begin around 23 April 2018.

Of the four influenza strains included in the vaccine, two are new (in bold):

•  A/Michigan/45/2015 (H1N1) pdm09- like virus
•  A/Singapore/INFIMH-16-0019/2016 (H3N2)-like virus
•  B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus
•  B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus

Minimum order requirements
The total influenza vaccine order must meet minimum quantities as follows:

March April May June July Aug-Dec
Min 60 doses Min 60 doses Min 60 doses Min 30 doses Min 20 doses Min 10 doses

 

New influenza vaccination precaution
Influenza vaccination may be contraindicated or need to be delayed for people receiving any of the following four new cancer treatments: 

  • atezolizumab (Tecentriq®),
  • ipilimumab (Yervoy®),
  • nivolumab (Opdivo®) 
  • pembrolizumab (Keytruda®)

The immune-stimulant actions of these treatments on the immune system increase a person’s risk of developing autoimmune conditions.

It is not known whether receipt of an influenza vaccine whilst receiving these treatments or for up to six months after treatment increases a theoretical risk of triggering the
occurrence of these side effects.

Please contact the person’s oncologist or 0800 IMMUNE (0800 466 863) for current advice about influenza vaccination for these people BEFORE administering the vaccine.
(page 2 in the Flu kit)
 

INFLUVAC® TETRA and FLUARIX® TETRA can be given to people with egg allergy or anaphylaxis (page 2 in the Flu kit)