Key points about flu immunisation

• the flu (influenza) can be a serious and sometimes life-threatening viral infection
• it is not the same as having a bad cold
• even if your child is fit and healthy, they can easily catch the flu
• flu immunisation is free for tamariki aged 6 months to 12 years from 1 April 2023
• it is especially important (and free) for children with certain long-term health conditions, who may develop complications from the flu
• ask your GP practice about flu immunisation

All children from 6 months of age can benefit from flu immunisation. From 1 April 2023, it's free for tamariki from 6 months to 12 years.

How easy is it to catch the flu?

The flu virus is very easy to catch and can affect anyone - it doesn't matter how fit and healthy your child is.

It can spread through the air by coughing and sneezing as well as by hands, cups and other objects that have been in contact with an infected person's mouth or nose.

Read about the flu [1]

Can I do anything to prevent my child catching the flu?

Flu immunisation offers the best protection. It strengthens your child's ability to fight the flu.

Regular hand washing, covering coughs and sneezes with tissues or your elbow, and keeping sick people away from healthy people also reduces the risk of spreading the flu.

Which tamariki need flu immunisation?

All children from 6 months of age can benefit from flu immunisation. By immunising your child, especially if they go to preschool, creche or daycare, you can protect them and your family.

Flu immunisation is especially important for children with certain long-term (chronic) health conditions. This is because these children are more likely to develop complications from the flu, such as chest infections. If your child does have a long-term condition, make sure they have their flu immunisation every year before the winter starts.

What time of year is flu immunisation usually available?

The flu vaccine is available from 1 April each year, before winter starts.

What about getting the flu and COVID-19 vaccines?

If your child is 5 years and over, they can have the COVID-19 vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine is also available to tamariki from 6 months who are at greater risk of severe illness from COVID-19.

Tamariki can have the flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time, before or after each other.

Watch a video from the Ministry of Health about getting the flu vaccine, and other vaccines, at the same time as the COVID-19 vaccine.

Check the KidsHealth section on COVID-19 immunisation in children [2]

Where can tamariki get flu immunisation?

Your child can have their flu immunisation at:

• your GP practice
• Māori and Pacific immunisation providers
• some pharmacies

Check with your nearest pharmacy whether they can give your child a free flu vaccine or whether there will be a cost. Some pharmacies give flu vaccines to children 3 years of age and older.   

Check immunisation providers in your area [3]. 

You can find out more about flu immuisation at the Immunise website [4]. 

How many doses of the flu vaccine does my child need?

Children aged 6 months to under 9 years

• in the first year they have flu immunisation, they need 2 doses, 4 weeks apart
• they only need 1 dose if they have had previous flu immunisation

Children aged 9 years or older

• 1 dose

Which flu immunisations are available for my child?

• children aged 6 to 35 months will have Afluria® Quad Junior
• children aged 3 years or older will have Afluria® Quad

See Medsafe's NZ consumer medicine information:

• Afluria® Quad and Afluria® Quad Junior vaccine (PDF, 80KB) [5].

Is flu immunisation free for my child?

Children aged 6 months to 12 years old can have a free flu vaccine. Your GP practice can tell you whether or not flu immunisation is free for your child older than 12 years. If you do have to pay, it costs between $25 and $45 but check the exact price with your family doctor or pharmacy. 

Flu immunisation is likely to be free for all children over 6 months if you answer 'yes' to any of these questions:

• does your child have asthma and regularly use a preventer medicine (brown, orange, red or purple inhaler)?
• is your child aged 4 years or under and has a significant respiratory illness or been in hospital for a respiratory illness (such as pneumonia, bronchiolitis, asthma)?
• does your child have a heart condition (such as congenital heart disease or rheumatic heart disease)?
• does your child have cancer?
• does your child have an ongoing chest (respiratory) condition, such as bronchiectasis or cystic fibrosis?
• does your child have diabetes?
• does your child have ongoing kidney (renal) disease?
• does your child have HIV or AIDS, an auto-immune disease or another immune deficiency?

If you answered 'no' to all these questions, and your child is not aged 6 months to 12 years, there is likely to be a cost. Check with your nurse or doctor.

It's a good idea to have flu immunisation if you share a house with children who have long-term conditions

Flu immunisation is also recommended for those sharing a house with children and young people with long-term (chronic) medical conditions. The flu spreads rapidly within households and children are very efficient spreaders.

Should I have flu immunisation if I'm pregnant?

Yes - flu immunisation is free anytime during your pregnancy. This is because flu is likely to be more severe in pregnancy and affect you and your growing baby.

Flu immunisation during pregnancy has an excellent safety record. It offers protection against the flu for mum and baby, both before and after birth. 

Watch Ali, an intensive care nurse and mum, talk about why she had flu immunisation while pregnant with her second child Caitlin. (A Ministry of Health video).

See the Ministry of Health website for a transcript [6].

Watch Elani Mafi, a midwife in South Auckland, talking about the importance of getting the flu vaccine in pregnancy. (A Ministry of Health video).

See the Ministry of Health website for a transcript [7].

Remember to have other important vaccines during pregnancy

As well as having the flu vaccine, remember to also have the COVID-19 vaccine and whooping cough vaccine. You can have the flu vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine at any stage of pregnancy, and whooping cough vaccine from 16 weeks of pregnancy. You can have them at the same time or separately.

Can flu immunisation give my child the flu?

No. Your child cannot get the flu from flu immunisation - there are no live viruses in flu immunisation. Many people confuse colds with the flu. There are many other viruses in the community which flu immunisation will not protect against.

Can flu immunisation make my child sick?

Most people have no reaction to flu immunisation. Anyone can have flu immunisation except those who have had a previous severe allergic reaction to flu immunisation.

Sometimes your child may have one or more of the following responses:

• soreness, redness, or swelling where the immunisation was given
• fever
• aches

These are usually mild and only last 1 or 2 days.

Can my child still get the flu even if they have had flu immunisation?

Immunisation is not 100% effective for all people, so some immunised people may still get the flu. If they do, symptoms are usually milder than if they had not had flu immunisation.

See more KidsHealth content on immunisation

Check out KidsHealth's section on immunisation [8]

[8]