The flu is a common viral infection that can be deadly, especially in high-risk groups. The flu attacks the lungs, nose and throat. Young children, older adults, pregnant women and people with chronic disease or weak immune systems are at high risk.


Symptoms include fever, chills, muscle aches, cough, congestion, runny nose, headaches and fatigue.


Being vaccinated causes your body to produce antibodies against the flu virus. This means your body can respond faster and more effectively to the flu. By first coming across a non-infectious version of the virus in the vaccine, it learns to recognise it. When it comes across it again, your body can react much faster and in a more effective way. Even if you get the flu after being vaccinated, you usually get a mild form of it and recover faster, and are less likely to have serious complications.

 

Corporate Voucher Option

 

The 2024 flu vaccination program is an important priority to your business. The impact of influenza spreading across the workplace can be very costly for businesses. The flu vaccination is the most effective way for employers to protect their employees. By encouraging teams to immunise against the flu, it can help decrease the chance of it spreading and reduce the risk of productivity losses. Flu vaccinations not only protect the individual vaccinated, but it also protects others around them who may be more vulnerable to the infection.

With Bargain Chemist stores across New Zealand offering flu vaccinations, we can provide a location that best suits your team to get vaccinated.

If you are wanting to inquire or easily book a corporate or group voucher, please email us at bookings@bargainchemist.co.nz

 

When can I get a flu shot?

Available now in selected Bargain Chemist stores

Please note pharmacists cannot vaccinate under the age of 13 years.

Make a booking
Please select a time that suits you and follow the booking process of adding your details. See below for FAQ on how to make a booking, change or cancel your booking once it has been confirmed.
FAQ
For more information about Influenza and immunisation, read our Frequently Asked Questions below
How much does the flu vaccine cost?

$22.99

Am I eligible for a free vaccine

You are eligible for a free vaccine if you meet any of the below criteria:

● Pregnant people (any trimester).

● People aged 65 years and older.

● Māori and Pacific peoples aged 55 and over.

● People aged under 65 years with any eligable medical conditions listed below.

● Children aged 6 months to 12 years old. Note Bargain Chemist cannot currently vaccinate under 13's.

List of eligible conditions for funded influenza vaccine

Have any of the following cardiovascular diseases:-

ischaemic heart disease, or

- congestive heart failure, or

- rheumatic heart disease, or

- cerebrovascular disease; or

Have either of the following chronic respiratory diseases:

- asthma, if on a regular preventative therapy, or

- other chronic respiratory disease with impaired lung function or

● have diabetes; or

● have chronic renal disease; or

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

● other chronic respiratory disease with impaired lung function or

● have any of the following other conditions:

- autoimmune disease,b or

- immune suppression or immune deficiency, or- HIV, or

- transplant recipient, or

- neuromuscular or CNS disease/disorder,c or

- haemoglobinopathy,d or

- children on long-term aspirin, or

- a cochlear implant, or

- error of metabolism at risk of major metabolic decompensation, or

- pre or post-splenectomy, or

- Down syndrome, or

Pregnant people (any trimester); or

When is the flu vaccine available?

The flu vaccine is available from April in selected Bargain Chemist pharmacies.

What are the benefits of the flu vaccination?

The best way to protect yourself and others from getting the flu.

●  You are likely to have fewer sick days and fewer days away from work or school.

●  Even if you still catch the flu despite having the vaccination, your symptoms are likely to be milder.

●  Having a flu vaccine every year can keep older people healthy and active for longer.

●  When given to pregnant women, it protects the mother and her baby against the flu.

●  Even if you don't feel sick, without the vaccine you could still be infected with the flu and pass it on to others.

●  By getting the vaccine, you will help protect vulnerable people in your community, such as very young children, elderly people and people with long-term health conditions.

What viruses will the 2023 flu vaccines protect against? Type of vaccine?

Inactivated vaccine - uses the killed version of the virus to generate an immune response

AFLURIA® QUAD

● For children and adults aged 3 years to under 65 years

FLUAD® QUAD

● For adults aged 65 years or older

The 2023 vaccines will be quadrivalent influenza vaccines that contain the following four influenza strains:

●  A/Sydney/5/2021 (H1N1) pdm09-like virus

●  A/Darwin/9/2021 (H3N2)-like virus

●  B/Austria/1359417/2021-like virus

●  B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus

When should I have the flu vaccination?

Best time to get vaccinated is before the winter season starts (May-July). This is due to the fact that the likelihood of influenza virus strains circulating significantly increases during the winter months.

Note: it can take up to 2 weeks for the vaccine to provide the best influenza protection.

What are the expected side effects of the flu vaccine?

The flu vaccine is mostly well tolerated. Common side effects include pain, redness and/or swelling at the site of injection for a day or two; mild fever. Muscle aches or headaches within the first two days. Rarely, an allergic response can occur.

Does the flu vaccine protect against COVID-19?

The flu vaccine won’t protect you against COVID-19 (coronavirus), but it will reduce your risk of influenza - which leads to thousands of hospitalisations each year. By getting the flu vaccine, you can reduce the strain on the health service.

When in store please ask about the Covid-19 vaccination inluding boosters

Is a pharmacist able to administer a flu shot?

Yes, we have trained pharmacists to administer flu shots.

Why do I need a flu vaccine every year?

Protection from the previous vaccination lessens over time. The circulating influenza viruses can change and the strains in the vaccine usually change each year in response to the changing virus pattern.

I am a healthy person; do I need a flu vaccine?

Although people with medical conditions, like asthma and diabetes, are most at risk of complications from the flu, healthy adults, children and infants can still become seriously ill and even die from the flu. Also, healthy people can spread the flu to others around them. It is recommended that even healthy people have the flu vaccine.

When is it too late in the season to get the flu vaccine?

Best to get before May for best protection, however you have until December 2023 to get the flu vaccine.

How quickly will I develop immunity after receiving the flu vaccine?

It takes up to two weeks for the influenza immunisation to start providing protection.

Booking FAQ
For more information about booking your Flu Vaccination read our Frequently Asked Questions below
How do I make a booking?

Follow our ‘book now’ link and select a Bargain Chemist store near you. Select a date and time that suits you for your vaccination. Enter your details name, email, phone number.

Do I pay online or instore?

Pay online if:

You are NOT eligible for a funded vaccination

You do NOT have a Bargain Chemist vaccination voucher

In-store if:

You are eligible for a funded vaccination.

You have a  Bargain Chemist vaccination voucher


How do I cancel or change my appointment?

From your confirmation email, you will be able to follow the link to change or cancel your appointment. If you are unable to do this, get in contact with your local Bargain Chemist and pharmacy staff can reschedule or cancel your appointment over the phone. Rescheduling is subject to booking availability.

What do I do if I miss my appointment?

If you miss your appointment, get in contact with your local Bargain Chemist to let them know to cancel or reschedule. If you are aware that you can’t make your appointment, you can reschedule through the link in your confirmation email.

How long does an appointment take?

Each vaccination appointment is 10 minutes with a recommended observation time of 20 minutes.

What happens during the appointment?

When you arrive, report to the dispensary that you have a flu vaccine booking. A pharmacist vaccinator will discuss your pre vaccination screening and consent form. The immunisation service will be provided in a private consolation area by trained pharmacist vaccinator. You will be required to stay within the pharmacy for a further 20 minutes observation to monitor the unlikely event of an adverse reaction to the vaccine.