Free Flu Vaccine For Children Aged 3-12 Years & Hapū Māmā

Children aged 3-12 can now get a free flu vaccine, along with hapū / pregnant māmā and pēpi from 6 months to under 5 years who have ever been in hospital with a respiratory illness or have other medical problems.

In recent weeks we have seen a number of pre-school children hospitalised with the flu. We also know children can be transmitters of the flu to others in their family who are more at risk, so it makes sense to reduce transmission as much as we can, and keep our tamariki out of hospital.

This winter the risk of getting flu is increased, with New Zealand no longer in lockdown and, with international borders opening it’s expected that we will see new strains of flu spreading in our communities.

The flu can give you pneumonia, and in severe cases means a hospital stay – particularly if you’re older, a young child, hapū, or have an ongoing medical condition.

 

The flu virus affects your whole body. Symptoms come on suddenly and can include

  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Muscle aches
  • Runny nose
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath, and
  • Stomach upsets

 

 

According to Dr Emma Best, Paediatrician and Specialist in Infectious Diseases at the University of Auckland Immunisation Advisory Centre, prevention is the best option.

She explains that as well as vaccinating tamariki, it is strongly recommended that hapū māmā get the influenza vaccine during pregnancy to “protect themselves and their newborn baby. It is a safe and effective vaccine for pregnant women and has benefits to protect hapū mums as well as their newborns from serious ‘flu.”

Dr Best also adds, that “if you don’t get the vaccine whilst pregnant it can be given safely if you are breastfeeding to keep mums well, prevent mums from getting ‘flu which would then pass onto the baby.”

 

You can find more information on vaccinations for tamariki, and hapū māmā here.

Walk-in vaccination options are available, or you can get a flu jab from your doctor or usual healthcare provider, and at most pharmacies.

Flu vaccinations are free for people aged 5-12, 65 and over, Māori and Pacific people aged 55 and over, anyone who is hapū, people with underlying health issues like asthma, diabetes, and heart disease, and people with serious mental health or addiction needs.