Promoting and supporting influenza immunisation

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).

2019 Influenza Immunisation Programme

Influenza vaccine supply

Click this link Influenza vaccine supply Hot Topic on The Immunisation Advisory Centre website for the latest information.

FLUQUADRI vaccine, approved for use in individuals’ age 3 years and older, continues to be available for ordering from HCL. From September through December, the minimum order is 10 doses and maximum order is 30 doses. FLUQUADRI is supplied with separate needles for attachment at time of administration. 

In the August Immunisation Update, the Ministry of Health advised that the additional stock of FLUQUADRI is expected to be sufficient to continue vaccination to the end of the 2019 influenza season. They are no longer asking providers to prioritise stock for higher-risk people.

FLUARUX TETRA continues to be the only vaccine approved for use in children aged under 3 years. Practices that do not have FLUARIX TETRA stock will be unable to administer an influenza vaccine to children aged 6–35 months

  • FLUQUADRI can be ordered, with a minimum order of 20 doses and maximum order of 30 doses.
  • No FLUARIX TETRA is available to order.
  • No INFLUVAC TETRA is available to order.
  • No AFLURIA QUAD is available to order.

Please call your Immunisation Co-ordinator (not 0800 IMMUNE) if you have any questions about available stock in your area.

2019 Flu Kit

 Click here to download the electronic version of the Flu Kit Booklet 2019 updated 11 April 2019

Please note: An erratum has been published for the Flu Kit Booklet 2019. To view the erratum please click here.

 

Important Information

FLUQUADRI™

  • Pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy.
  • Adults and children aged 3 years or older with severe asthma, heart disease, diabetes and other serious health conditions that make them more susceptible to influenza.
  • Those aged 65 and over.
  • Purchased by ineligible adults and children from 3 years of age.

AFLURIA® QUAD

  • Pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy.
  • Adults and children aged 5 years or older with severe asthma, heart disease, diabetes and other serious health conditions that make them more susceptible to influenza.
  • Those aged 65 and over.
  • Purchased by ineligible adults and children from 3 years of age.

INFLUVAC® TETRA

  • Pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy.
  • Adults and children aged 3 years or older with severe asthma, heart disease, diabetes and other serious health conditions that make them more susceptible to influenza. 
  • Those aged 65 and over.
  • Purchased by ineligible adults and children from 3 years of age.

FLUARIX® TETRA

  • Children aged 6 months to under 3 years with serious respiratory illnesses, heart disease, diabetes and other serious health conditions that make them more susceptible to influenza.
  • Pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy.
  • Purchased for children aged 6–35 months who are not eligible to receive a funded vaccine based on the influenza risk to the individual child and the local availability of Fluarix Tetra.

The influenza strains included in the 2019 quadrivalent vaccines are the:

  • A/Michigan/45/2015 (H1N1) pdm09-like virus
  • A/Switzerland/8060/2017 (H3N2)-like virus
  • B/Colorado/06/2017-like virus
  • B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus

Influenza vaccination precaution

These are the only four cancer treatments in New Zealand when influenza vaccination may be contraindicated or need to be delayed: 

  • 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.