Around one in four New Zealanders are infected with influenza each year. Many people won’t feel sick at all, but can still pass it on to others.
Influenza can be anywhere. Contact with the influenza virus is almost unavoidable, and while contact does not necessarily mean infection, it does mean that you are never far from the possibility of catching influenza.
Getting a flu vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and your family against the effects of the flu: headaches, fever and aches and pains. The vaccine can also greatly reduce your risk of serious complications that can develop from the flu. It is important to note that the flu vaccine does not give you the flu.
By immunising against influenza you can protect yourself and lessen the chance of bringing it home to a baby, older relative, or someone with a medical condition who could develop serious complications from influenza.
It is best to be vaccinated early in the season, as it can take up to two weeks following the vaccination for the body to develop flu-fighting antibodies. Almost everyone can benefit from the protection of annual influenza immunisation.
The vaccine is free for people at risk predominantly:
- Pregnant (any stage of pregnancy)
- 65 years or older
- Diabetes
- Heart Disease
- Kidney Disease
- Asthma/Respiratory Disease
- Cancer & some other diseases