Influenza Vaccinations
The 2026 New Zealand influenza vaccination programme runs from 1 April to 31 December, offering four vaccine types (Influvac Tetra, Flucelvax, Fluad, Fluzone) tailored for the southern hemisphere winter. The funded vaccine is Influvac Tetra for eligible individuals aged 6 months+. Free vaccines are available for those over 65, pregnant people, and those with specific chronic conditions.
Key 2026 Consumer Information:
Availability: Vaccination starts 1 April, with clinics available via GP, pharmacy, and workplaces.
Funded Vaccines: Influvac Tetra (6 months+), geared towards high-risk individuals.
Unfunded (Private Purchase) Vaccines: Flucelvax (6 months+), Fluzone (6 months+), and Fluad (specialized, 50 years+).
Safety: The vaccines do not contain live virus and cannot cause the flu.
Side Effects: Common, mild reactions include sore arms, low-grade fever, or aches.
Children: Children under 3 may require 1 or 2 doses.
Influenza is our most common vaccine-preventable disease. Although it can be a mild disease, it may cause serious illness in otherwise healthy people and lead to hospitalisation, complications and death.
The virus influenza is caused by different strains of influenza virus. The surface antigens on influenza viruses can change from year to year by small (drift) or large (shift) amounts. These changes lead to seasonal outbreaks and potentially pandemics. The composition of influenza vaccines is reviewed each year to better match each season’s vaccine with the circulating strains.
The clinical illness symptoms of influenza vary with age, immune status and health of the individual, and include fever, sore throat, muscle aches, headache, cough and severe fatigue. The onset of symptoms is typically sudden. The fever and body aches can last 3–5 days and the cough and fatigue can last for two or more weeks.
While any influenza infection could become a severe illness, the risk of complications is highest in young children, elderly adults, pregnant people and those with underlying health conditions.
