One Auckland GP, who did not want to be named, said Healthcare Logistics could only supply 60 Afluria Quad vaccines to each GP practice.
Those vaccines needed to last until the end of April.
"A lot of people are abusing nurses because they can't get their flu vaccine."
Two weeks ago the Ministry of Health announced it was bringing flu vaccinations forward to March 18 for high risk groups and frontline health workers.
While the flu vaccine doesn't protect against Covid-19, it does reduce the burden on the healthcare system. Hospitals already struggle each winter with a surge in flu cases, and the addition of Covid-19 could overwhelm them if uncontrolled.
Turner said yesterday the flu vaccine was a "priority issue".
One couple in Auckland said their respective mothers had both tried to get the flu vaccine this week and were told they could not.
Colin Dietschin said his 80-year-old mother in south Taranaki was told the vaccine was not available until mid-April.
The earliest his partner's 87-year-old wheelchair-bound mother, who lives with them in Long Bay, could get the vaccine was mid-next week at the pharmacy because their GP wouldn't have any until April 24.
"I thought that they were available and if you rang up and were in that category you could go in and get it but it appears not," Dietschin said.
"It just surprises me that this information comes out from Dr [Ashley] Bloomfield [Director-General of Health] and the Prime Minister and when you go to do something about it, it's not there so there's a disconnect between what's actually happening and what they're telling people."
But the Ministry of Health said there was still substantial flu vaccine stock in fridges around the country.
A spokeswoman said the demand for flu vaccine had been extremely high and the ministry was aware that some practices had already run through their initial orders.
"We are working with the health and disability sector to ensure influenza vaccines are distributed equitably across New Zealand, to enable those at greatest risk to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
"We ask for people's patience while our health system works through any backlogs.
"Further deliveries of influenza vaccine are arriving in New Zealand shortly and there will be more stock available in the first half of April."
She said almost 900,000 vaccines had been sent to providers so far this year.
"It's great that so many New Zealanders are keen to protect themselves by getting the flu vaccine this year.
"It's worth noting that influenza immunisation doesn't normally start until April, and the flu season doesn't normally start until late May."
βππ¨ β€ππππππ βππππ€ ππππ ππ π½π£πππ€π₯, ππ¦π₯π€πππππ€ ππ π€π₯ πππ€π₯ππ£π π»πππ ππ£πππππ€ βππ¨ β€ππππππ π£ππππ€ π€πππ ππ ππ£πππ€π₯ πππ πππππͺ, π€π¦π£π‘ππ€π€πππ βπππππ, πΈπ¦π€π₯π£ππππ, ππ, ππ ππ ππππ ππ£ππ₯ππ πππππ£π₯πππ€. π otearoa New Zealand ranks second in the 2025 Freedom in the World report by Freedom House , scoring 99/100, just behind Finland’s perfect 100. This stellar ranking reflects its robust democratic institutions, strong civil liberties, and adherence to the rule of law, positioning it ahead of most Western nations like Canada, Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Let’s explore how New Zealand compares to these peers and why it excels. New Zealand’s 40/40 in political rights highlights its free, fair elections and vibrant political pluralism, with opposition parties operating freely. Its 59/60 in civil liberties underscores strong protections for f...
New Zealand has a nationwide shortage of flu vaccinations as it heads into winter and influenza season.
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