新西兰卫生部副部长 David Seymour 欢迎新西兰药品管理机构 Pharmac 决定进一步加强全国疫苗接种体系，其中包括从2027年流感季开始，为6个月至5岁以下儿童提供政府资助的流感疫苗。

Seymour 表示，冬季对许多新西兰家庭而言都是一个充满挑战的时期，近年来较强的流感病毒株也增加了防治难度。

“流感季会给家庭、工作场所、学校以及医疗卫生系统带来巨大压力。今天宣布的决定，将让明年冬季的应对更加容易。”

从2027年4月起，所有年满6个月、但尚未满5周岁的儿童，都将有资格获得政府资助的流感疫苗。

这意味着将有超过26万名儿童符合免费接种资格。

Seymour 表示，这是一项务实的疾病预防投资，有助于减少儿童患病、家庭就医需求以及冬季期间医疗系统所承受的压力。

这是 Pharmac 确认的一揽子疫苗投资计划的一部分。预计在首个获得政府资助的年度中，将有约160万名新西兰人接种此次计划涵盖的疫苗。

目前，政府已经为65岁及以上人士提供资助的流感疫苗；对于65岁以下、但患有某些增加严重疾病风险的健康状况的人士，也符合资助接种条件。

从2027年4月起，政府资助的流感疫苗将更换为新一代疫苗，为老年人、符合条件的高风险65岁以下人士以及6个月至5岁以下儿童提供更好的保护。

与此同时，Pharmac 将从2027年起更换政府资助的流感、ACWY型脑膜炎球菌以及肺炎球菌疫苗品牌。

其中，流感疫苗的政府资助范围将进一步扩大。从2027年4月1日起，所有6个月至59个月大的儿童均可获得政府资助的流感疫苗。

Seymour 表示，Pharmac 在公众咨询期间获得了广泛支持。新西兰民众普遍支持扩大创新型流感疫苗的覆盖范围，同时加强对肺炎球菌疾病的防护。

他说，这些改革将让更多新西兰人获得针对严重疾病的更好保护，同时确保公共资金能够真正改善新西兰人的健康状况。

Seymour 表示：“这也是 Pharmac 正在建立的一种新文化——根据有需要的新西兰人的反馈，为他们提供真正需要的药品和疫苗。”

Over 260,000 young children eligible for funded flu vaccines from 2027

Associate Health Minister David Seymour welcomes Pharmac’s decision to strengthen New Zealand’s vaccine response, including by funding the flu vaccine for children aged 6 months up to 5 years old for the 2027 flu season.

“Winter is a challenging period for many Kiwis. Strong flu strains in recent years have made it much more difficult,” Mr Seymour says.

“Flu season puts a lot of pressure on households, workplaces, schools, and the health system. Today’s decision will make next winter more manageable.

“From April 2027, every child aged six months until their fifth birthday will be eligible for a funded influenza vaccine. This gives parents another tool to help keep their children healthy and reduce the impact of flu on families.

“This change will mean more than 260,000 children are eligible for funded flu vaccination. That’s a practical investment in prevention that will help reduce illness, doctor visits, and pressure on the health system during the winter months.

“This is part of a broader package of vaccine investments confirmed by Pharmac. 1.6 million New Zealanders are expected to receive the vaccines included in this decision in the first year of funding.”

The influenza vaccine is currently funded for people aged 65 years and over, and for people under 65 with certain health conditions that put them at higher risk of serious illness.

“From April 2027, funded influenza vaccines will move to newer vaccines that provide improved protection for older New Zealanders, eligible at-risk people under 65, and children aged six months up to their fifth birthday,” Mr Seymour says.

Pharmac is changing funded brands of the influenza, meningococcal ACWY and pneumococcal vaccines from 2027. Access to funded influenza vaccination will widen to include all children aged 6 months up to their fifth birthday (6-59 months inclusive) from 1 April 2027.

“Pharmac received strong support for the proposals during consultation. New Zealanders told Pharmac they supported broader access to innovative influenza vaccines and stronger protection against pneumococcal disease,” Mr Seymour says.

“These changes give more New Zealanders access to better protection against serious illness while ensuring public funding helps improve health outcomes for New Zealanders.

“This is another example of the culture we are building at Pharmac. Pharmac funding the medicines that Kiwis need, based on the feedback of Kiwis in need.”