Our drop in, flu clinic will be open 9:30 until15:00 Monday, Wednesday and Fridays.
Influenza in New Zealand
Influenza (flu) can be a serious illness and poses a significant public health issue in New Zealand.
Immunisation provides the best protection against influenza. Immunisation provides the best protection against influenza and reduces the chance of serious illness and hospitalisation.
What the flu vaccine protects you from
The flu (influenza) virus changes often. This means the vaccine has to be tweaked each year to match the new strains of the disease. Getting a flu vaccine every year means you have the best protection.
Flu symptoms come on suddenly and can include fever, chills, muscle aches, runny nose, cough, shortness of breath, and stomach upsets. It can keep you in bed for a week or more.
Flu is usually spread by coughing and sneezing and is most common during winter.
The flu can make you very sick, even if you are usually fit and healthy. Your tamariki can get very unwell with it too. You could also spread it to vulnerable people, including older people or pregnant people.
The 2026 flu vaccine is free for some people (Available from Wednesday 1st April 2026)
The flu vaccine is free for people at higher risk of getting very sick, including:
- people aged 65 years and over
- people aged 6 months and over who have a long term medical condition like diabetes, asthma, or a heart condition
- pregnant people
- tamariki (children) aged 4 years and under who have been hospitalised for respiratory illness, or have a history of significant respiratory illness
- people with mental health conditions, including schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, or schizoaffective disorder
- people who are currently accessing secondary or tertiary mental health and addiction services.
The funded flu vaccine for tamariki and adults (6 months of age and over) available in Aotearoa New Zealand is called Influvac Tetra. If you are not funded the cost will be $38 at Western Heights Health Centre.
https://immune.org.nz/factsheets/influenza-2026-pharmac-eligibility-criteria
for more information visit the Te Whatu Ora – Health new Zealand page Flu 2026
Risk of flu when you are pregnant
If you catch the flu when you are pregnant, there is a high risk you could develop serious complications that can affect you and your pēpi (baby). Complications include:
- premature birth
- low birthweight
- miscarriage or stillbirth.
You can get a free flu vaccine at any stage of your pregnancy. If you are pregnant across 2 flu seasons, it is recommended that you get a vaccination in both seasons.