Influenza immunisation programme 2021

26/2/2021

Kia ora koutou,
We are pleased to provide you with information about the 2021 influenza immunisation programme to assist you with your planning.

About 2021 influenza immunisation programme

The 2021 influenza immunisation programme is a priority for the Ministry of Health.

Last year, a record number of people received the influenza vaccine and we’re planning for high demand again this year.

We are acutely aware there were distribution challenges last year. We received clear feedback from the sector about the need to make plenty of vaccine available, particularly at the start of the season, and to ensure that supply is consistent.

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Based on this, and on current information from PHARMAC and the vaccine supplier Seqirus, we have set the start date for the programme for 14 April 2021 with a two-week prioritisation period.
The prioritisation period is for vaccinators to focus on immunising people who are eligible for a funded vaccination first, to help protect people at greatest risk.
To help ensure there is enough influenza vaccine to meet demand and supply is continuous, PHARMAC is also funding an additional vaccine brand for adults aged 65 and over – FLUAD® QUAD.

You can find more information below, and please keep an eye out for an invitation to a teleconference next week.

We have updated our website with high-level information about the programme: https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/preventative-health-wellness/immunisation/influenza

We will work with IMAC and our sector working group to produce and distribute information for the public about influenza immunisation closer to the start of the programme.

If you require further information for the public or if you have questions, please contact us at influenzaimmunisation@health.govt.nz

Ngā mihi

Influenza immunisation programme

About the vaccines

PHARMAC is funding an additional vaccine brand to ensure there is enough influenza vaccine to meet demand and supply is continuous.
PHARMAC is funding FLUAD® QUAD, a vaccine specifically made for those aged 65 and over, to ensure this important group has certainty of supply as early as possible.
Afluria Quad will be available for all others who are eligible for the funded vaccination.
For those who do not meet the funded eligibility criteria, Afluria Quad will be available through private immunisation providers (general practitioners or pharmacists or occupational health) at a cost.
You can find out more information about the vaccines from PHARMAC, and from vaccine supplier Seqirus.

Start date and prioritisation period

The programme start date is 14 April, with a two-week prioritisation period for those eligible for a funded vaccination.
For the first week of the prioritisation period, please focus on immunising adults aged 65 and over with FLUAD QUAD.
For the second week of the prioritisation period, from 21 April, please extend this to include others eligible for a funded vaccination.
Vaccination can then be extended to include the general population from 28 April 2020.

Refer to the tables below for details.
The programme runs to 31 December 2021.

Click here to view the Programme

The start dates are later than in previous years based on information about vaccine availability provided by supplier Seqirus.
It also takes into account the immunisation sector’s requirement for more reliable and consistent access to the influenza vaccine, particularly at the start of the programme when demand is highest.
The prioritisation period dates are based on our programme goals and the availability of FLUAD QUAD, which is scheduled for distribution slightly earlier than Afluria Quad and Afluria Quad Junior.
This provides an opportunity for vaccinators to immunise those over 65 ahead of the influenza season and ahead of the COVID-19 vaccine becoming available for this group.

Needles

The Afluria Quad, Afluria Quad Junior and FLUAD® QUAD vaccines for 2021 will be supplied without needles. Seqirus has ordered adequate supplies of needles to support the influenza immunisation programme.
Needles will be able to be purchased separately from EBOS or pharmacy wholesalers. The needles will be available to order from 15 March and will be distributed in the lead up to the programme start date.
There will be two different needles for Afluria Quad/Afluria Quad Junior and FLUAD® QUAD. The Pharmacodes for each will be supplied at the same time as the ordering details.

Equity

We plan to extend the Māori Influenza Vaccination programme in 2021 as part of our commitment to improving equity for Māori. The programme will begin on 14 April 2021 for kaumātua Māori aged 65 and over.

Occupational health and healthcare workforces

As in previous years it is important healthcare and other frontline workers get immunised against influenza.
Occupational health services can immunise such workforces from 14 April 2021 if 65 and over, or 21 April 2021 if under 65 years of age.
Alternatively, healthcare and other frontline workers can get vaccinated from 28 April by their doctor or pharmacist (unless they are eligible for a funded immunisation, in which case they can get immunised from 14 April if aged 65 and over or 21 April if eligible under other criteria).

Funding for immunising health and disability care workers

The Ministry will be providing funding to support influenza vaccination for health and disability sector employees, self-employed lead maternity carers and carers employed under individualised funding arrangements who:

o   are not eligible for a funded vaccination under the eligibility criteria stated in the Pharmaceutical Schedule
o   have patient/client contact
o   have not previously been the recipient of an employer-funded influenza vaccination whilst in their current place of employment (not including one reimbursed by the Ministry of Health in 2020).
o   Further information on how to claim will be available on the Ministry of Health website.

Workforce planning and COVID-19 immunisation programme

This is a significant year for immunisation. We are co-ordinating existing immunisation programmes and the national measles immunisation campaign with the rollout of a COVID-19 immunisation programme.
As part of this planning, we will be developing immunisation plans with providers that take into account the current recommended spacing of at least two weeks between receiving COVID-19 and influenza vaccines.

· Be assured that workforce considerations are an important part of our immunisation planning for this year, including ensuring we have enough capacity to manage the multiple priorities of COVID-19 immunisation, the National Measles Immunisation Campaign and influenza.

Ministry of Health continues to prioritise protecting New Zealanders against influenza
· The 2021 influenza immunisation programme remains an important priority for the Ministry of Health. There is an ongoing public health risk of influenza to New Zealand, even with the current border restriction. Any increased travel across the border, for example as a result of ‘safe travel zones’, will also increase the risk of influenza being imported into New Zealand.

Keeping you updated

We will provide further information about the influenza immunisation programme via our website, and you can contact our team at influenzaimmunisation@health.govt.nz

Please forward onto your networks.

Ngā mihi
Immunisation Team