Why get the flu vaccine?

Prevention and protection is the best defence against the flu

Getting a flu vaccine  helps reduce your risk of getting really sick or having to go to the hospital. 

• The flu virus affects your whole body: Symptoms come on suddenly and can include fever, chills, muscle aches, runny nose, cough, shortness of breath, and stomach upsets. It can keep you in bed for a week or more.
• Risk of developing pneumonia:  In severe cases, a bad flu means a hospital stay – particularly if you’re older, a young child, pregnant, or have an ongoing medical condition, such as heart disease or diabetes.
• Sometimes the flu can be fatal – in New Zealand, around 500 people die from the flu every year, with hundreds more hospitalised.

Reduce the spread of flu to friends and whānau

Around four out of five people with flu have no symptoms and don't know they can be spreading the virus to other people.    

Being vaccinated reduces the risk of accidentally passing the flu to your whānau, friends, and your community.