Children under five to get free flu vaccinations immediately

Checkpoint · Sep 1, 2026 · 3m

Children under five can get their flu vaccinations free from today - a year ahead of schedule - as the health system strains under the weight of a late-winter outbreak. Changes announced last week made an extra 260,000 kids eligible for a free shot from next year. But Pharmac today confirmed, in response to a recent surge in flu cases, that it's brough the change forward, effective immediately. Anya Fielding reports.