News article
Influenza vaccines administered in New Zealand
The numbers as at 13 August 2022
- 7,297 flu vaccines administered across New Zealand in the past week, bringing the total to date to 1,253,656 (24.8% of the population).
- Flu vaccines administered to those over 65 so far: 569,852 (70.1%).
- Flu vaccines administered to Māori aged 55 to 64 so far: 25,328 (36.3%).
- Flu vaccines administered to Pacific people aged 55 to 64 so far: 12,704 (39.8%).
- Flu vaccines administered to those aged 3 to 12 so far: 53,973 (8.0%).
- 1,668,176 doses have been distributed around the country.
- Total flu vaccinations administered for the year in 2020 was 1,163,566.
- Total flu vaccinations administered for the year in 2021 was 911,046.
What you need to know
It is not too late to get your flu jab. You can catch the flu all year round. Getting the flu vaccine helps reduce your risk of getting really sick or having to go to hospital.
Funded eligibility for the flu vaccine has recently been extended. Flu vaccines are free for those people most likely to get very sick – people who are over 65 years of age; Māori and Pacific people over 55 years of age; pregnant people; children aged 3-12 years old, and those with underlying and other health conditions.
To keep your child and whānau healthy this winter, it’s important they have a flu vaccination, and are also up to date with their other vaccinations, including COVID-19 and MMR. Tamariki aged under 9 may require two doses of the flu vaccination, 4 weeks apart, if they have not had it before.
We encourage everyone to get a flu vaccination if they are not yet immunised.
We also remind people to stay home if they are unwell, regardless of their COVID-19 test result. Staying home when unwell is one of the most important public health measures to prevent transmission of all respiratory illnesses.
More information
Data may vary from week to week as flu records are updated.