A Primer On Vaccination Ahead Of Flu Season

Monday, 31 March 2025, 5:26 pm
Article: RNZ

29/3/2025

Note: This story has been corrected to remove incorrect information. Health NZ does not recommend people take a one-week gap between getting a flu vaccination and a Covid-19 booster, and people do not need to consult their GP if having both vaccinations at the same time.

Notices recommending people to get vaccinated against winter illnesses have been plastered on walls in pharmacies and medical centres nationwide ahead of the flu vaccine's availability from 1 April.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, public awareness of the importance of vaccination has increased.

There has also been an uptick in people monitoring themselves for flu-like symptoms and isolating themselves from others when ill.

But with the national flu immunisation programme starting on Tuesday, there's still a little confusion about what may or may not be needed.

Below, RNZ tries to answer a few common questions related to vaccination.

What viruses are currently circulating?

Five years after the country first went into lockdown due to the pandemic, Covid-19 has not been eradicated.

According to data from Health NZ, 524 new Covid-19 cases were reported in the week up to March 23, with 44 of them in Auckland.

But it would be wrong to think that Covid is the biggest danger.

About 500 people die every year from influenza, with most cases occurring between May and October, according to data from Health NZ.

Because strains of the flu vary each year, Health NZ recommends that people receive a flu vaccine annually.

It's important to note that influenza and Covid share similar symptoms, such as fevers, sneezing and sore throats.

When such symptoms arise, Health NZ recommends people to use rapid antigen tests to determine the actual cause.

Other viruses that circulate on a smaller scale but persist in the community include chickenpox, whooping cough and hepatitis A/B, among others.

Nevertheless, key seasonal vaccinations are the flu shot and the Covid-19 vaccine and booster.

Do I need multiple vaccinations?

Although symptoms of the flu and Covid appear similar, they are different viruses and so there is no "silver bullet" vaccine that prevents them both.

This means people may need more than one vaccination to prevent infection.

Vaccines typically take time to build immunity, which is why medical researchers encourage people to be vaccinated early.

Covid-19 boosters must be received six months apart, and nurses cannot administer them any sooner.

Why do we need a flu shot every year?

Different strains require updated influenza vaccines each year.

Immunisation Advisory Centre medical adviser Dr Edwin Reynolds told RNZ earlier this week there were essentially two influenza A strains and two B strains that vaccines protected people against.

The World Health Organisation decided which strains should go into vaccines for New Zealand each year, he said.

Why are Covid-19 boosters needed?

The protection provided by vaccination typically weakens over time, so booster shots are an effective preventative measure to guard against Covid-19.

"When you are first vaccinated, your body learns what to do if it meets a particular virus or bacteria. Your second (and sometimes third or fourth) dose boosts your immune system so you will have stronger, and longer-lasting, protection," Health NZ says on its website.

"Different vaccines protect you for different lengths of time, which is why you may need a booster vaccination to strengthen your immunity."

Who needs to be vaccinated?

Health NZ encourages most people to receive a flu jab, especially pregnant women, infants and children, people over 65 and those with underlying medical conditions.

These vulnerable groups generally have lower resistance to viruses.

For example, catching the flu during pregnancy increases the risk of premature birth, miscarriage and low birth weight.

How can I receive a vaccination?

Appointments can be booked through your GP, and some pharmacies also offer walk-in vaccinations for those aged 3 and above.

Individuals and groups can book online via the Health NZ website.

Flu vaccinations are free for vulnerable groups in New Zealand.

If you do not meet the criteria for a free flu jab, most health providers charge between $25 and $45, Health NZ says.

How can I be sure vaccines are safe?

Decades of immunisation practice have proven that building immunity through vaccination is a safe and effective way to combat disease.

New Zealand has been using vaccination to prevent disease for more than 150 years, with vaccines employed in the fight against smallpox as early as 1863.

The first official nationwide immunisation programme came in the form of the Diptherica, Tetanus and whole-cell Pertussis (DTwP) vaccine in the late 1960s to prevent diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough.

This later evolved into the National Immunisation Schedule.

What vaccines are available in New Zealand?

New Zealand has 17 different vaccines that prevent more than 20 diseases (some vaccines protect against more than one disease), including Covid-19, influenza, whooping cough and measles.

Respiratory illnesses that commonly peak during winter include Covid-19, influenza, whooping cough and tuberculosis.

You can register and create a personal immunisation record on the Health NZ website.

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