Updated vaccination information and new phone number for disability assistance

July 12, 2022 | Covid-19

There have been recent changes to eligibility for free flu vaccinations and second booster doses for Covid-19.

A new call centre phone number for disability queries has been established 0800 11 12 13. Most staff on working on this line either have a disability or a lived experience of disability.

Callers to this line can get assistance with vaccine bookings, apply for face mask exemptions, get advice on COVID testing, and seek guidance with managing COVID at home.

Eligibility criteria for FREE seasonal influenza vaccination in 2022:

• Pregnant women (any trimester)
• People aged 65 years older
• Māori and Pacific peoples aged 55 to 64 years
• People aged under 65 years with any of the medical conditions listed in this PDF
• People under 65 years of age who have schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, or schizoaffective disorder; OR are currently accessing secondary or tertiary mental health and addiction services
• Children aged 3 to 12 years inclusive
• Children aged 4 years or under who have been hospitalised for respiratory illness or have a history of significant respiratory illness

Second Covid-19 Booster

The eligibility criteria for a second COVID-19 booster dose have been released. Those eligible for a second booster dose six months after their first dose (or three months post Covid-19 infection whichever is the later date) are:

• Māori and Pacific peoples aged 50 years and over.
• All people aged 65 years and over.
• Residents of aged care and disability care facilities.
• Severely immunocompromised people who received a three-dose primary course and a fourth dose as a first booster (noting this would be a fifth dose for these people).
• People aged 16 years and over who have a medical condition that increases the risk of severe breakthrough COVID-19 illness.
• People aged 16 years and over who live with disability with significant or complex health needs or multiple comorbidities
• People aged 50 years and over.
• Health, aged care, and disability workers aged over 30 years.