Amendment to influenza vaccine funding criteria

A) is available each year for patients who meet the following criteria, as set by PHARMAC:

a) all people 65 years of age and over;
b) people under 65 years of age with:

i) the following cardiovascular disease:

1) ischaemic heart disease,
2) congestive heart disease,
3) rheumatic heart disease,
4) congenital heart disease, or
5) cerebo-vascular disease;

ii) the following chronic respiratory disease:

1) asthma, if on a regular preventative therapy, or
2) other chronic respiratory disease with impaired lung function;

iii) children aged four and under who have been hospitalised for respiratory illness or have a history of significant respiratory illness.
iv) diabetes;
v) chronic renal disease;
vi) any cancer, excluding basal and squamous skin cancers if not invasive;
vii) the following other conditions:

a) autoimmune disease,
b) immune suppression,
c) HIV,
d) transplant recipients,
e) neuromuscular and CNS diseases,
f) haemoglobinopathies, or
g) children on long term aspirin.
h) pregnancy.

c) people under 18 years of age living within the boundaries of the Canterbury District Health Board

The following conditions are excluded from funding:

a) asthma not requiring regular preventative therapy,
b) hypertension and/or dyslipidaemia without evidence of end-organ disease.

B) Doctors are the only Contractors entitled to claim payment from the Funder for the supply of influenza vaccine to patients eligible under the above criteria for subsidised immunisation and they may only do so in respect of the influenza vaccine listed in the Pharmaceutical Schedule.

C) Individual DHBs may fund patients over and above the above criteria. The claiming process for these additional patients should be determined between the DHB and Contractor.

D) Stock of the seasonal influenza vaccine is typically available from February until late July with suppliers being required to ensure supply until at least 30 June. Exact start and end dates for each season will be notified each year.