More New Zealand children will be eligible for funded influenza vaccination from next year, with Pharmac expanding access to include all children aged from six months up to their fifth birthday.
The change will take effect from 1 April 2027, ahead of the 2027 influenza season, and means children aged 6 to 59 months will be able to receive a funded flu vaccine regardless of whether they meet other clinical eligibility criteria.
Pharmac is also changing the funded brands of influenza, meningococcal ACWY and pneumococcal vaccines from 2027 as part of new supply agreements for the National Immunisation Schedule.
The agency says the changes follow its 2025 Request for Proposals process for funded vaccines, excluding COVID-19 vaccines, and are intended to secure ongoing supply while achieving value for money.
Flu access widens significantly for preschool children
The most significant change for families is the expansion of funded influenza vaccination.
From 1 April 2027, all children aged six months to 59 months will be eligible.
That includes children who may not previously have qualified for a funded vaccine through an underlying health condition or another eligibility category.
The move gives parents of preschool-aged children a broader opportunity to protect them against seasonal influenza without having to pay privately.
Influenza can cause serious illness in young children, particularly during winter, and expanding access is likely to make vaccination easier for families who may previously have faced cost as a barrier.
Vaccine brand changes also coming
Pharmac has confirmed that the funded brands of several vaccines will change from 2027.
The influenza vaccine changes will begin from 1 April 2027.
Changes to meningococcal ACWY and pneumococcal vaccines will take effect from 1 July 2027.
The agency says the changes are part of its vaccine procurement process, which is used to secure supply for the National Immunisation Schedule.
The exact funded brands and access criteria will be set out in Pharmac’s formal decision documents.
Changes at a glance
| Vaccine area | What is changing | Effective date |
|---|---|---|
| Influenza | Funded access widened to all children aged 6 to 59 months | 1 April 2027 |
| Influenza | Funded brand changes | 1 April 2027 |
| Meningococcal ACWY | Funded brand changes | 1 July 2027 |
| Pneumococcal | Funded brand changes | 1 July 2027 |
| Pneumococcal | Access widened for some people who have already had a serious infection | 2027 changes |
Pneumococcal access also expanded
Pharmac has also widened access to a funded pneumococcal vaccine for people who have already experienced a serious pneumococcal infection.
The change is intended to help reduce the risk of those people experiencing another serious infection.
Pneumococcal disease can lead to severe illness, including pneumonia, bloodstream infection and meningitis.
People who have already experienced an invasive or serious infection can remain at higher risk, so broader funded access may help prevent repeat illness in those groups.
Why Pharmac changes funded vaccine brands
Brand changes can sometimes cause concern for patients and health professionals, particularly when people are used to seeing the same vaccine name each year.
Pharmac’s role is to decide which medicines and vaccines are funded within New Zealand’s public health system.
As part of that process, it negotiates supply agreements with pharmaceutical companies and considers factors including price, supply security and clinical suitability.
The agency says its 2025 vaccine procurement process was designed to secure reliable supply and value for money.
That means the vaccine brand supplied through the funded programme can change even when the vaccine continues to protect against the same disease.
Pharmac said it considered consultation feedback before finalising the latest decisions.
What parents will need to know
For families with children under five, the key date is 1 April 2027.
From that date, children aged six months through to 59 months will be eligible for funded influenza vaccination.
Parents will still need to arrange vaccination through the normal health system, including participating general practices, pharmacies or other vaccination providers where appropriate.
Families should also check current advice closer to the 2027 influenza season because vaccine availability, timing and provider arrangements can vary.
The expansion does not mean influenza vaccination becomes mandatory.
It means the cost barrier is removed for a wider group of young children.
A broader prevention approach
The decision reflects a wider emphasis on preventing infectious disease before it leads to hospital treatment or serious complications.
Young children can experience significant illness from influenza, and they can also spread the virus quickly through households, early childhood centres and communities.
Likewise, pneumococcal disease can become serious very quickly in vulnerable people.
By widening funded access, Pharmac is shifting more of the focus towards prevention for groups where the health benefit may be significant.
The agency says it will continue updating its website as the 2027 changes approach.
For families, the immediate takeaway is straightforward: from next year, funded flu vaccination will become available to every child from six months of age until their fifth birthday.
Source: Pharmac media release, 26 August 2026.