Promoting and supporting influenza immunisation

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

Quick links

Administration and answers to some frequently asked questions about influenza vaccination webpage with information about waiting time post-influenza vaccination, spacing of influenza and other vaccines, and much more.

Resources webpage where you can download the Everything you need to know about FLU handbook and some programme resources, order programme resources, and link to HealthEd for immunisation related resources.

Ordering influenza vaccines

FLUAD® QUAD (vaccination of eligible adults aged 65 years or older begins 14 April)

  • FLUAD QUAD is only approved for use in adults aged 65 years or older
  • Only order FLUAD QUAD if you are vaccinating people aged 65+ years.
  • Funded for adults who are eligible to receive publicly funded healthcare services.
    • PHARMAC is funding this additional vaccine brand, a vaccine specifically made for those aged 65 and over, to ensure this important group has certainty of supply as early as possible, and to ensure there is enough influenza vaccine to meet demand and supply is continuous.
  • Link to the FLUAD QUAD data sheet on the MedSafe website.

AFLURIA® QUAD (can be ordered from 27 April)

  • For children and adults aged 5–64 years.
  • Funded for children and adults who met the influenza vaccination eligibility criteria.
  • Available for those who do not meet the funded eligibility criteria through private immunisation providers (general practitioners or pharmacists or occupational health) at a cost.
  • Link to the AFLURIA QUAD data sheet on the Medsafe website.

INFLUVAC® TETRA (can be ordered from 27 April)

  • For children aged 3–4 years.
  • Funded for children who met the influenza vaccination eligibility criteria.
  • Available for those who do not meet the funded eligibility criteria through private immunisation providers (general practitioners) at a cost.
  • Limk to the INFLUVAC TETRA data sheet on the Medsafe website.

AFLURIA® QUAD JUNIOR (can be ordered from 27 April)

  • For children aged under 3 years, i.e., 6–35 months.
  • Funded for children who met the influenza vaccination eligibility criteria.
  • Available for those who do not meet the funded eligibility criteria through general practitioners at a cost.
  • Link to the AFLURIA QUAD JUNIOR data sheet on the Medsafe website.

Start dates

  • The 2021 Influenza Immunisation Programme will commence on 14 April 2021, for people aged 65 and over.
  • The programme for people aged under 65 years is due to begin on 17 May.
    • The start dates are later than in previous years based on information about vaccine availability provided by supplier Seqirus.
    • Refer to the table below for details.
  • The Ministry asks vaccinators to focus on immunising people eligible for a funded vaccine.
  • The influenza vaccination programme runs to 31 December 2021. All groups can be immunised through to December.
Vaccine Ordering and distribution From 14 April 2021

From 17 May 2021
FLUAD® QUAD

Now

Adults aged 65 and over including health and other frontline workers aged 65 and over

UPDATES 15 April:

  • Ineligible adults aged 65 and over can purchase FLUAD QUAD
  • Occupational vaccinators can purchase FLUAD QUAD for workplace vaccination of adults aged 65 years or older

All adults aged 65 and over – eligible and non-eligible
AFLURIA® QUAD

Order from 27 April.

Distribution in time for the Programme start date.

  

All people aged 5–64 years – eligible and non-eligible
INFLUVAC TETRA

Order from 27 April.

Distribution in time for the Programme start date.

   All children aged aged 3–4 years – eligible and non-eligible
AFLURIA® QUAD JUNIOR

Order from 27 April.

Distribution in time for the Programme start date.

   All children aged
6–35 months – eligible and non-eligible.

Providers can email queries about the Influenza Immunisation Programme to the Ministry of Health at [email protected].