Western Bay of Plenty residents are being urged to get in early for their annual influenza vaccination appointment.
Medical Officer of Health for Bay of Plenty DHB, Jim Miller, recommends people to start making plans to receive the important immunisation as New Zealand prepares for a predicted second wave of the H1N1 flu, previously known as swine flu.

'As always, there are certain groups of people who are more vulnerable to influenza and get the most benefit from the vaccine.”
'These are the people most at risk of severe illness and complications from seasonal influenza and include the very young, the elderly, and people with certain medical conditions, such as asthma, diabetes and heart disease.”
He says the pandemic strain also carries increased risk for pregnant women, morbidly obese people and those aged under 65 years with chronic medical conditions.
In addition to the trivalent, or triple strain, seasonal vaccine, this year, the Ministry of Health is offering an ‘early bird' monovalent single strain vaccine against H1N1 to people specifically at risk from the pandemic strain.
The early bird vaccine is also being offered to frontline healthcare workers who are in contact with these vulnerable groups.
Unlike the seasonal vaccine, the ‘early bird' vaccine must be given in two doses to all age groups.
There is limited stock of the monovalent pandemic vaccine available, so only those prioritised by the Ministry of Health are eligible to receive it,” says Dr Miller.
Restricted supply also means not all GP practices will be able to offer the early bird vaccine and people should contact their GP for further information.
'However, it's extremely important that as many people as possible get the seasonal influenza vaccine that contains protection against pandemic H1N1 and seasonal strains when it arrives in March.”
The Ministry of Health plans to start the seasonal influenza campaign on March 8.