Decision to immediately widen access to the influenza vaccine for children under 5

Medicines Decision

What we’re doing

We're pleased to announce we are widening access to the influenza vaccine for children under the age of 5 years from 1 September 2026.

This is an interim measure in response to current influenza activity and is separate to Pharmac's previously announced decision to fund influenza vaccination for this age group from the 2027 influenza season as part of routine vaccine procurement arrangements.

The decision has been made following assessment of national influenza vaccine stocks, which confirmed there is sufficient supply to support immediate expansion of eligibility as very little flu vaccine is generally distributed at this time of year.

Why we’re proposing this

Pharmac has recently announced a decision to widen access to funded influenza vaccination for children aged 6 months up to their fifth birthday (6 to 59 months) for the 2027 flu season.

Pharmac, Health New Zealand, and the Ministry of Health have been monitoring influenza activity closely and have listened to calls from the health sector to widen access to funded vaccines for children. 

Following discussions between Pharmac and health sector partners, it has been agreed that expanding access for children under five years was the most appropriate response based on current health need, population evidence and vaccine availability.

The 2026 influenza season has seen high rates of influenza-related hospitalisations among children under five years, who are at greater risk of severe illness than other age groups. In response, Pharmac has confirmed there is sufficient vaccine supply to support immediately widening funded access to this group.

This action responds to current public health concerns and supports efforts to reduce influenza-related illness and hospitalisations among young children.

In light of the current influenza activity and available vaccine supply, we are pleased to announce that Pharmac has decided to widen access for children under the age of 5 years from 1 September 2026.

Who we think will be most interested

  • Healthcare professionals working in primary care and outreach vaccination settings
  • Paediatricians
  • Infectious disease and respiratory specialists
  • Pharmacists and Pharmacist Vaccinators
  • Health New Zealand
  • Suppliers and wholesalers
  • Organisations with an interest in immunisation including, RNZCGP, NITAG, Ministry of Health, Public Health Agency, Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC)

Detail about this decision

The following changes will occur in Section I and similar changes are being made to Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 September 2026, however these changes will not be visible in the Schedule until 1 October 2026 (changes in bold and strikethrough):

Section I changes

A) INFLUENZA VACCINE is available each year for patients who meet the following criteria, as set by Pharmac:

a) all children aged 0 months to 59 months inclusive, or

b) a) all people 65 years of age and over; or

c) b) people under 65 years of age who:

i. have any of the following cardiovascular diseases:

a. ischaemic heart disease, or

b. congestive heart failure, or

c. rheumatic heart disease, or

d. congenital heart disease, or

e. cerebro-vascular disease; or

ii. have either of the following chronic respiratory diseases:

a. asthma, if on a regular preventative therapy, or

b. other chronic respiratory disease with impaired lung function; or

iii. have diabetes; or

iv. have chronic renal disease; or

v. have any cancer, excluding basal and squamous skin cancers if not invasive; or

vi. have any of the following other conditions:

a. autoimmune disease, or

b. immune suppression or immune deficiency, or

c. HIV, or

d. transplant recipients, or

e. neuromuscular and CNS diseases/disorders, or

f. haemoglobinopathies, or

g. are children on long term aspirin, or

h. have a cochlear implant, or

i. errors of metabolism at risk of major metabolic decompensation, or

j. pre and post splenectomy, or

k. Down syndrome, or

vii. are pregnant; or

c) children 4 years of age and under who have been hospitalised for respiratory illness or have a history of significant respiratory illness; or

d) people under 65 years of age who:

i) have any of the following serious mental health conditions:

a. schizophrenia, or

b. major depressive disorder, or

c. bipolar disorder, or

d. schizoaffective disorder, or

ii) are currently accessing secondary or tertiary mental health and addiction services; or

Unless meeting the criteria set out above, the following conditions are excluded from funding:

a. asthma not requiring regular preventative therapy,

b. hypertension and/or dyslipidaemia without evidence of end-organ disease.

B) Contractors will be entitled to claim payment for the supply of influenza vaccine to patients eligible under the above criteria pursuant to their contract with Health NZ for subsidised immunisation, and they may only do so in respect of the influenza vaccine listed in the Pharmaceutical Schedule.

C) Contractors may only claim for patient populations within the criteria that are covered by their contract, which may be a sub-set of the population described in paragraph A above.

If you have any questions about this decision, you can email us at enquiry@pharmac.govt.nz; or call our toll free number (9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday) on 0800 660 050.