Influenza vaccination is free to those at greatest risk of serious complications, including those over the age of 65, pregnant women, people with on-going health conditions such as asthma, and children under five years who have been hospitalised for a respiratory illness. Pregnant women can have the shot any time after the first trimester (and around 28 weeks you should also have Boostrix to protect your baby from whooping cough). All others should consider a flu vaccine, as over 1 million New Zealanders do every year. This year's vaccine contains the H3N2 strain which caused a lot of trouble in the northern hemisphere during their winter.
We have reduced the cost of the shingles vaccine to $220 - this has been a popular option for our older patients, since it reduces the risk of shingles by about 50%, and the risk of neuralgia by about 67%. Some people are combining the shingles vaccine with their flu shot. Comments are closed.
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