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Influenza in the Waikato

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Influenza in the Waikato

As people in Aotearoa emerge from their bubbles, there’s a much bigger chance of catching the flu (influenza).

Pandemic measures like mask wearing and hand hygiene mean we've had very little influenza circulating in New Zealand for the past two years, so community immunity is lower than usual. And, with international borders opening, we’ll see new strains of flu spreading in our communities.

Getting a flu jab is your best defence from the flu this winter. They’re available now and are free for those most likely to get very sick.

You can get your flu vaccination from participating pharmacies, GP practices, at clinics run by community healthcare partners or one of our community vaccination sites. 

At our community vaccination sites the influenza vaccine will be offered for anyone eligible for the free flu vaccine aged 9 and over (please take younger children to your GP). We are also offering the MMR vaccine for anyone eligible aged 3 and over (please take younger children to your GP.)

Reduce the spread of flu to friends and whānau 

Getting a flu jab each year is the best way to stop flu from spreading.  

Around four out of five people with flu have no symptoms and don't know they can be spreading the virus to other people.

Being vaccinated reduces the risk of accidentally passing the flu to your whānau, friends, and your community.

Influenza is a potentially serious virus that spreads quickly from person to person. Influenza is much more serious than a cold, and the symptoms are much more severe – influenza kills.

Symptoms of influenza can include the following symptoms:

  • fever or chills
  • dry cough
  • sore throat
  • runny nose
  • headache
  • body aches and pains
  • lack of energy, fatigue, and generally feeling really sick for about 10 days.  

Influenza can be severe enough to require hospital treatment, particularly in the very young, elderly, and in people who already have health problems. It can be serious and life-threatening.

Having an Influenza immunisation every year can keep older people healthy and active for longer.

Influenza immunisation during pregnancy helps protect the mother and her baby against Influenza.

Immunisation is your best defence against influenza. Even if you still catch Influenza after immunisation, your symptoms are less likely to be severe.

New Zealand’s 2022 flu vaccine will protect against four strains of flu virus – two influenza type A strains and two influenza type B strains:

A/Victoria/2570/2019 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus
A/Darwin/9/2021 (H3N2)-like virus
B/Austria/1359417/2021-like virus
B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus

The strains in bold are new for 2022.

Funded vaccines for those that meet the 2022 PHARMAC eligibility criteria

  • AFLURIA QUAD - for children and adults, aged from 3 years
  • AFLURIA QUAD JUNIOR - for children aged under 3 years, ie, 6–35 months

Unfunded vaccines 

These are for people who don’t meet the eligibility criteria for a funded vaccination OR choose to pay for an alternative vaccine to the funded vaccine.

  • AFLURIA QUAD - for children and adults, aged from 3 years
  • AFLURIA QUAD JUNIOR - for children aged under 3 years, ie, 6–35 months
  • FLUAD QUAD - for adults aged 65 years or older
  • FLUQUADRI - for children and adults, 6 months of age and older

 

The influenza vaccine (flu jab) is FREE for people who are most likely to get very sick. Anyone over 6 months can have a flu vaccine.

  • Pregnant people
  • people aged 65 years or older,
  • Māori and Pacific people aged 55 years and over 
  • people who have a long-term medical condition like diabetes, asthma, or a heart condition (ages 6 months+)
  • children 4 years old or younger who have been in hospital with respiratory illness such as asthma.  

If you’re eligible for a free flu shot, contact your GP or healthcare provider to make a booking. 

If you’re not eligible for a free flu jab 

If you’re not eligible for a free flu jab, and not covered by an employer-funded programme, it costs between $25 and $45 depending on the vaccine and provider.  

Contact your GP or local pharmacy to find out how much they charge and when you can book. 

Why it’s important to get the influenza vaccine (flu jab) if you’re pregnant 

As people in Aotearoa emerge from their bubbles, there’s a much bigger chance of catching the flu. Pandemic measures like mask wearing and hand hygiene mean we've had very little influenza circulating in New Zealand for the past two years, so community immunity is lower than usual. And, with international borders opening, we’ll see new strains of flu spreading in our communities.

It’s more important than ever to protect yourself and your baby from the flu by getting your yearly flu jab as soon as you can. 
Being hāpu (pregnant) and getting the flu means you’re: 

  • at increased risk of pneumonia 
  • nearly five times more likely to be admitted to hospital with flu compared to a non-pregnant woman. 

Flu increases the risk of pregnancy complications, including: 

  • premature birth    
  • low birthweight   
  • miscarriage/stillbirth   
  • birth defects. 

Protect your baby 

Antibodies your body makes from the flu jab are shared with your pēpi (baby), so when they’re born, they have some protection against the flu for the first few months of their life.  

Newborns and young infants are more likely to end up in hospital with flu than older children, so the protection they receive from you in the womb could make all the difference.  

Breastfeeding 

Being vaccinated while breastfeeding may offer some protection against flu but babies will have more protection if their mother is immunised during pregnancy.

Flu jabs are also free if you’re pregnant.  

Safety 

The flu jab has been used by pregnant women for many years and has an excellent safety rating.  

There’s no increased risk of side effects from the flu vaccine if you’re pregnant or for your unborn baby.  

Side effects and reactions to the flu jab

 

Getting the flu jab

Flu jabs are free if you’re pregnant and it protects both you and your pēpi – before and after birth.   

The flu vaccine can be given at any time during pregnancy. Get the flu jab before the start of winter for best protection. 

Your flu vaccine doesn’t cross the placenta into your pēpi. The vaccine helps your own immune system to make protective proteins (antibodies) that can fight off the virus.

You can’t get the flu from the vaccine. 

Although having the vaccination doesn’t guarantee you won’t catch the flu, it will give you and your baby more protection if you do catch it.  

You can get your free flu jab from your GP or healthcare provider. Many pharmacies also offer the free flu vaccine. 

  • Wash and dry hands thoroughly or use hand sanitiser before touching your mouth, nose or eyes
  • Use disposable tissues. One blow and throw the tissue away, preferably into a rubbish bin with a lid or a plastic liner, then wash and dry hands, or use hand sanitiser
  • Cover coughs and sneezes with a disposable tissue or, if no tissues are available, cough or sneeze into the inside of your elbow or arm
  • Regularly clean flat surfaces, door handles, bathroom sinks and taps
  • Stay at home if you are sick
  • Keep at least a metre away from people who you know are sick

For the latest information on FLU 2022

Go to the Ministry of Health web page

Other helpful links

www.immune.org.nz
www.healthnavigator.org.nz/health-a-z/i/influenza

Waikato Community Vaccination Centres offering the flu and MMR vaccines

Hamilton Te Awa Vaccination Centre
9am-5pm - seven days a week – Te Awa The Base, Level 1, Corner Te Rapa Road and Wairere Drive, Hamilton

Thames Vaccination Centre
9am-4.30pm Tuesday-Saturday (Closed Monday and Sunday) – Goldfields Shopping Centre, 100 Mary Street, Thames

Morrinsville Vaccination Centre
9am-4pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. 12noon-7pm Thursday – Campbell Hall, Knox Presbyterian Church, 45-49 Canada Street, Morrinsville

Te Awamutu Vaccination Centre
9am-3.30pm Wednesday to Friday – 244 Arawata Street (former Bunnings site), Te Awamutu

Tokoroa Vaccination Centre
9am-4pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. 11am-6pm Thursday (closed Saturday-Monday) – 203 Leith Place, Tokoroa

* At our community vaccination sites the influenza vaccine will be offered for anyone eligible for the free flu vaccine aged 9 and over (please take younger children to your GP). We are also offering the MMR vaccine for anyone eligible aged 3 and over (please take younger children to your GP.)