Flu vaccine to be free for children under five from next year

Wednesday 26 August 2026 · 6 outlets · 3 reports · updated Wed 26 Aug, 3:20pm

In this story Pharmac

Pharmac has announced that the influenza vaccine will be fully funded for all children under five starting next season. This decision follows calls from doctors after a spike in infections led to soaring hospitalisation rates for this age group, particularly among Māori and Pasifika tamariki.

How they headlined it

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9:14am2:33pm3:20pm

1. NZ HeraldWed 26 Aug, 9:14am

   Calls for free flu vaccine for under-5s as hospitalisations soar (opens in new tab)

2. Waikato Times via RNZWed 26 Aug, 2:33pm

   Flu vaccine to be free for under 5s (opens in new tab)

   Also on The Post (opens in new tab), The Press (opens in new tab)

3. 1News via RNZWed 26 Aug, 3:20pm

   Flu vaccine to be free for all under fives (opens in new tab)

   Also on NZ Herald (opens in new tab), Otago Daily Times (opens in new tab)