Health Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall got her Covid booster and influenza vaccination at a community vaccination event at Upper Hutt on 1 April, 2023. Photo: RNZ / Soumya Bhamidipati
Nearly 600,000 people have had a flu shot in the first four weeks of the main rollout, as doctors warn of a significant and severe season ahead.
The flu season has started earlier this year, with some health experts saying there are likely to be nasty strains circulating.
The rate of people getting the flu jab was similar to last year.
Te Whatu Ora said 583,590 doses had been given to 28 April, with figures for the whole month not due until the end of this week.
Last year, there were 599,809 doses given in April.
Northland and northern Auckland GP Tim Malloy said there was usually a good start to the rollout, but his practice was seeing the best uptake in years.
"There's been an enthusiasm for it which is actually pretty reassuring," Malloy said.
Some of that was because many people had now experienced Covid-19 so were doubly keen on avoiding another respiratory illness, he said.
The trick would be keeping up efforts, once the the initial flurry died down, to try to reach those who were more hesitant, he said.
This year's flu outbreak was likely to be "significant and severe," he said.
It was important for people to get the vaccine as early as possible so they had the best immunity when they came into contact with the virus.
Although Covid-19 was still extremely dangerous for vulnerable people, for those who were otherwise healthy, this year's flu could be more serious than the Omicron strains circulating, Malloy said.
Many of his patients were having their Covid-19 and flu vaccinations at the same time, he said.
A total of 840,000 people have had their second Covid-19 booster, about half of those eligible.
This week, the government is due to release its plan to help the health system cope this winter.