Associate Health Minister David Seymour and Health Minister Simeon Brown said the decision followed calls from patients for earlier access, making more than 260,000 young children eligible.
Brown said young children could become much sicker from influenza than many people realised and were more likely to require hospital treatment.
Children under 5 have recorded the highest hospitalisation rates during this year’s flu outbreak, which has been one of the most severe in years.
“Flu season puts a lot of pressure on households, workplaces, schools and the health system,” Seymour said.
“[The] decision will give families the support they need to manage the flu this year.”
Auckland mum Megan Peddie says her GP practice did not know free flu vaccines for under-5s were coming when she paid $35 to vaccinate her daughter a day before the change.
The 33-year-old said a nurse later told her the change in practice had not been flagged.
“If the GP knew, they could have delayed it a day and it would have been free,” Peddie said.
“I imagine a whole lot of other families are going to do that now because it’s free for under-5s. They haven’t stocked up on supplies for the vaccine, so what kind of chaos is that going to cause?”
Peddie welcomed the expanded access but questioned its timing.
“Don’t get me wrong, I am super grateful it’s free, but is it a bit late?”
Health NZ has confirmed vaccine providers were not formally advised of the expanded free flu vaccine until the day the change took effect.
National director prevention – immunisation Nikki Canter-Burgoyne said providers were notified on Tuesday, September 1, through a Public Health Advisory sent to Primary Health Organisations to pass on to general practices.
She said that was Health NZ’s standard process.
Before the change, the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners had told Health NZ that general practice was ready to vaccinate at scale if eligibility was widened, while Pharmac confirmed there was enough vaccine stock nationally.
Canter-Burgoyne said providers were likely to see increased demand and had been advised to consider additional clinics or longer opening hours.
However, Health NZ had received no reports of demand, capacity or supply issues. Regional teams were monitoring demand and could offer additional clinics if required.
Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners president Dr Luke Bradford said the college contacted practices once it became aware of the change and encouraged them to reach out to eligible families.
He said it was too early to know how much demand had increased.
Asked whether a three-week wait was acceptable, Bradford said wait times varied between practices and regions, but there was sufficient vaccine stock nationally.
“Young children experience some of the highest levels of influenza-related illness and hospitalisation, with Māori and Pacific children disproportionately impacted,” he said.
Rachel Maher is the education correspondent for the New Zealand Herald. She also covers other topics such as Auckland issues, crime and local government. She started at the Herald as a breaking news journalist in 2022, before joining the Auckland team this year.