Immunisation for adults

Yearly vaccination against the flu is the best way to protect our communities from infection and serious illness. It's advisable for anyone over the age of 6 months to have the flu vaccine.

In Aotearoa New Zealand the flu vaccine is free for:

• pregnant people
• everyone 65 years of age and older
• other groups at a higher risk of getting the flu and complications, which may involve being admitted to hospital.

Read more about the flu vaccine. 

Pneumococcal disease is caused by a bug (bacteria) called S. pneumoniae. This causes serious illnesses including pneumonia (lung infection), meningitis and septicaemia (infection of the blood). Pneumonia can cause hospitalisation and even death, especially in people 65 years of age or older.

Getting the pneumococcal vaccine is one of the ways to protect against pneumococcal disease. The vaccine may not always prevent pneumonia but it can lessen the severity of the illness and the need to go to hospital. Pneumococcal vaccine is not free for all older adults in Aotearoa New Zealand – you may need to pay for it. If you are over 65 years of age you only need 1 dose.

Read more about pneumococcal disease and the pneumococcal vaccine.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a very common virus in the winter and spring months in Aotearoa New Zealand. It's one of many viruses that cause infections of the respiratory tract, eg, bronchiolitis(external link) and pneumonia.(external link) The respiratory tract involves the parts of the body related to breathing (eg, your nose, windpipe and lungs).

Read more about RSV.

In Aotearoa New Zealand there's a vaccine to protect against RSV infection but it's only available for people aged 60 years and over and it's not funded, meaning you have to pay for it. Talk to your healthcare provider about whether they recommend the Arexvy® vaccine(external link) to protect you against RSV. 

Shingles is a painful, itchy skin rash. It usually appears as blisters around one side of your chest, but it can also affect your trunk, back, legs or face. It's most common in people over 70 years of age, but can happen in younger people. It's caused by the same virus (varicella zoster) that causes chickenpox. 

In Aotearoa New Zealand there's a vaccine called Shingrix® available:

•  2 doses are needed for protection against shingles.
•  It's free:
  • for 12 months once you turn 65 years of age. As long as you receive your first dose when you're 65, your second dose will still be free, even if you get it after you turn 66
  • for certain people 18 years of age and over who are at increased risk of shingles because of a health condition or treatment. Read more about the eligibility criteria for immunocompromised people(external link).
• Shingrix vaccine is recommended, but not funded, for anyone from 50 years of age.

Read more about shingles and the shingles vaccine. 

Tetanus is a serious disease caused by bacteria usually found in soil and manure. It affects your nervous system and causes severe muscle spasms, mainly in your jaw and neck. Tetanus can affect your breathing and can be life threatening.

Anyone who hasn't had 3 tetanus-containing vaccines is at risk of getting tetanus. 

The effect of the vaccine wears off over time so having tetanus vaccines as a child won't give you life-long cover. You need booster doses as an adult. Booster doses may also be needed after dirty cuts, grazes and wounds if it's been more than 5 years since your last booster. 

For adults, booster doses are given as a combination vaccine called Boostrix® which also protects against diphtheria and whooping cough.

Free booster doses are available for adults:

• 65 years of age and above unless they've already received a tetanus booster within the past 10 years
• 45 years of age and above who haven't previously received 4 doses of tetanus-containing vaccine.

Although the vaccine is free for these groups, there may be a small charge for the injection to be given.

Note: The Boostrix® vaccine also protects against whooping cough, but this protection is expected to decrease after 4 to 6 years. Some adults are recommended to have a whooping cough booster at least every 10 years, eg, if you live with a newborn baby. If you’re not eligible for a free whooping cough booster, they can be purchased. Your vaccinator can give you advice on how often it’s recommended you have a booster. For more information about tetanus vaccine ask your healthcare provider.

Read more about tetanus and the tetanus vaccine.