New Zealand Immunisation Strategy
Key messagesYour regular use and support of the following messages will play an essential role in increasing influenza vaccination and lowering infection rates.
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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.
- Vaccinate 80% of healthcare workers against influenza annually.
Who should be vaccinated?
Influenza continues to be a major threat to public health worldwide because of its ability to spread rapidly through populations. Influenza vaccination can be offered to individuals aged 6 months or older.
Influenza vaccination is funded for certain groups of people who are considered to be at greater risk of complications from influenza. Additional preventative strategies are important to reduce their risk of exposure to influenza. The vaccination is also recommended, although not funded, for those who are in close contact with individuals who are more vulnerable or at high risk of complications and who may also be less able to mount a strong immune response to vaccination. Frontline healthcare workers are usually funded by their employer.
Eligibility for funded influenza vaccine
All children aged under 18 years who meet the influenza vaccination eligibility criteria can receive funded influenza vaccination regardless of their immigration and citizenship status, and providers can claim the immunisation benefit for administering the vaccine.
Adults aged 18 years or older who meet the influenza vaccination eligibility criteria must also be eligible to receive publicly funded health and disability services in New Zealand to receive funded influenza vaccination. Refer to the Health and Disability Services Eligibility Direction 2011 for eligibility criteria (available at www.health.govt.nz/new-zealand-health-system/eligibility-publicly-funded-health-services).
Women aged 18 years or older who are pregnant and not eligible to receive publicly funded health and disability services in New Zealand are recommended to receive influenza vaccination but are not eligible to receive funded vaccination, even if they are receiving funded primary maternity services under the Section 88 Primary Maternity Services Notice 200721 (available at www.health.govt.nz/publication/section-88-primary-maternity-services-notice-2007).
Eligibility criteria for FREE influenza vaccination for 2020: • Pregnant women (any trimester) |
For vaccination eligibility and clinical queries contact:
Influenza vaccination before winter offers the best protection |