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 issue

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

The Ministry of Health and PHARMAC have advised that an additional 55,000 doses of the influenza vaccine FLUQUADRI™ have been sourced for delivery to New Zealand from Monday 8 July. This should enable providers to receive delivery from later that week onwards. Providers can now place orders for FLUQUADRI through HCL.

The distribution of influenza vaccine in New Zealand has reached near record levels. Around 1.3 million doses of influenza vaccine have been distributed already this winter. This number is close to last year’s all-time record of 1.326 million doses for the entire season, and exceeds the number of doses distributed each year in 2016 and 2017.

  • Fluarix Tetra can be ordered, with a maximum order of 5 doses.
  • FluQuadri can be ordered, with a minimum and maximum order of 30 doses.
  • No Influvac Tetra is available to order.
  • No Afluria Quad is available to order.

While people at greatest risk from influenza continue to be the priority for influenza vaccination, the additional vaccines mean that other New Zealanders will be able to purchase FLUQUADRI once the new stocks arrive. INFLUVAC TETRA and AFLURIA QUAD will also be available for purchase by ineligible adults and children.

Children aged 3 years to under 9 years who were not able to receive their second influenza vaccination

As influenza vaccine is available for purchase again, children aged 3 years to under 9 years can now receive their second purchased influenza vaccination to maximise their immune response against influenza.

Influenza vaccine brands are interchangeable, children who received FLUARIX TETRA or INFLUVAC TETRA for their first vaccination can receive the age appropriate vaccine available when their second dose is due (FLUQUADRI from 3 years or AFLURIA QUAD from 5 years).

Children aged 6–35 months

While high-risk eligible children aged 6–35 months continue to be the priority to receive FLUARIX TETRA, clinicians can make decisions on the use of FLUARIX TETRA in children aged 6-35 months who are not eligible to receive a funded vaccine based on the risk to the individual child and the local availability of FLUARIX TETRA.

Health professionals, please use this link to read the document  Managing influenza vaccine supply.

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

2019 Flu Kit

Distribution of this year’s Flu Kit to immunisation providers began on 20 March 2019. If you have not received a Flu Kit, please contact us by email at influenza@auckland.ac.nz. Please DON'T contact our 0800 line about the Flu Kit, we are extremely busy with clinical calls during this period. 

 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.