2023 influenza vaccines

Four quadrivalent vaccines

AFLURIA® QUAD JUNIOR

• Only for use in 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.
  

AFLURIA® QUAD

• In children aged 3 years or older and adults.
  
• 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.
  

FLUAD® QUAD

• FLUAD QUAD is approved for use in adults aged 65 years or older
  
• Available for those who do not meet the funded eligibility criteria through some general practitioners at a cost.
  
• Link to the FLUAD QUAD data sheet on the Medsafe website.
  

FLUQUADRI®

• FLUQUADRI is approved for use in children and adults, aged 6 months and older
  
• Available for those who do not meet the funded eligibility criteria through some general practitioners at a cost.
  
• Link to the FLUQUADRI data sheet on the Medsafe website.
  

Influenza vaccine strains

For 2023, of the four influenza strains included in the quadrivalent vaccines, the one in bold listed below is  new:

• A/Sydney/5/2021 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus
  
• A/Darwin/9/2021 (H3N2)-like virus
  
• B/Austria/1359417/2021-like virus
  
• B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus

Production of vaccines

• All the influenza vaccines currently available in New Zealand are split virion inactivated vaccines. They contain haemagglutinin proteins from the surface of the virus. These proteins are harvested and purified from influenza virus which is grown in embryonated hen’s eggs and inactivated with beta‑propiolactone or formaldehyde.
  
• Four virus strains are produced separately and combined to make the quadrivalent formulation.
  
• The adjuvanted formulation, FLUAD QUAD, also contains a squalene-based oil-in-water emulsion adjuvant, MF59, to produce a strong immune response in older people.
  

Needles for 2023 influenza vaccines

Needles are available for purchase from EBOS Healthcare, Amtech or pharmacy wholesalers.

• AFLURIA QUAD, AFLURIA QUAD JUNIOR and FLUAD QUAD vaccines are supplied without needles.
  
• FLUQUADRI needles are unattached, and included separately with the vaccines.
  

At the time of vaccination, the choice of needle gauge and length will be based on the vaccinator’s clinical judgment to ensure needle length is appropriate to reach muscle. Table 2.8 in the online Immunisation Handbook 2020 provides guidance on the needle gauge and length by site and age.