Flu vaccine due to arrive in April or May

DOSES of the flu vaccine should be available for use in April or May.

While that is later than it has been in recent years, delivery should still be in plenty of time for people to be vaccinated before the flu season arrives — usually around June or July — health officials say,

‘‘In some recent years we have been fortunate to have it earlier than in previous years . . . the main concern is for the vaccine supplies to arrive in adequate time for vaccinators to be able to vaccinate people prior to the arrival of the flu season,’’ Nikki Turner, of the Immunisation Advisory Centre, said.

Dr Turner said the delivery date of the doses depended on the complexity of the vaccine.

This year, two new flu strains were being included, which made production more difficult than some years where there had been only one or no strain changes, she said.

‘‘It takes about two weeks for the immunity post vaccination to build up so, so long as there is a period of at least two weeks prior to the onset of the flu season there is no concern,’’ Dr Turner said.

‘‘General practice often would prefer more time to vaccinate, as it can be a very busy time, but on the other side, if we vaccinate too early, immunity for some, particularly the elderly and those with less efficient immune responses, can wane earlier in the season, so a slightly later start may be an advantage.’’