Free flu vaccine to be offered to all under-fives from next year
The government will fund flu vaccines for all children under five, extending eligibility to about 260,000 more children.
The flu vaccine will become free for all children under five from next year. The move follows calls from doctors and a significant spike in influenza infections and hospitalisations among young children this year. The expanded programme will make the vaccine available to approximately 260,000 additional children.
Covered byRNZ1NewsNewstalk ZBOtago Daily TimesNot covered byStuffNZ HeraldNewsroomThe SpinoffBusinessDeskinterest.co.nz
Coverage across the news outlets we track, as at publication.
What outlets are saying
RNZ
Calls for free flu vaccine for under-fives as hospitalisations soar
A large number of under-fives are going into intensive care as flu-like symptoms spread.
Otago Daily Times
Call for free flu vaccine for young children
RNZ
Flu vaccine to be free for all under fives
The change means about 260,000 more children will be eligible next winter.
1News
Flu vaccine to be free for all under fives
Doctors had been calling for the vaccine to be fully funded, with this year's influenza strain causing a big spike in infections.
Otago Daily Times
Flu vaccine to be free for all under-fives
Newstalk ZB
Flu vaccine to be free for all under fives
The flu vaccine will be free to all under-5s from next year.