Upcoming Influenza Vaccination campaign – ordering product

Upcoming Influenza Vaccination campaign – ordering product Afluria Quad, Afluria Quad Junior (Funded and private (unfunded) vaccines for adults and children) and Fluad Quad (Private vaccine for patients aged 65 and over) are now listed on HCL’s website for pre-release ordering.

Distribution will commence once the stock has been released by Seqirus on or around 21 March.

You may order all three vaccines together for a single delivery. Please place only ONE order per delivery destination.

We ask that you do not place further orders until such time as you have received your first order. This will enable us to process all initial orders before resupplying anyone.

If at all possible, we ask that you order in full bin quantities (guidance provided on the website).

Please note that HCL has been impacted by Omicron and has limited staff to pick and pack all orders including flu vaccine. NZ Couriers, who deliver flu vaccines to you, have been similarly impacted. It is possible that orders may be delayed. We therefore request your assistance: 1. Please be patient. HCL will do everything possible to get your flu supplies to you before 1 April. However, please be mindful that 1 April is just the date on which subsidised access to flu vaccine commences. If you need to start vaccinating patients a little later because your stock has not yet arrived, we apologise and request your forbearance in difficult times.

2. Please use the cell phone number of a contact in your organisation as the PO number on the order. This will enable us to contact you easily by text or phone you should we need to.

3. We strongly recommend that you do not book appointments to vaccinate patients until you have supplies of vaccine.

4. The timeframes for which packaging used for flu vaccine has been validated to maintain temperatures of 2-8 degrees are limited. Because of this and potential carrier delays, it is recommended that, where possible, you order supplies in the larger bin sizes (in lots of 200 or 300 doses). This size of bin is validated to maintain this temperature for 30+ hours, rather than 24 hours for the smaller sizes, and will give greater protection if there are carrier delays.

5. However, if you do not need this much stock or your fridge capacity is insufficient to hold this much stock, you may order a minimum of 60 doses. Please be aware of time and temperature of the stock on arrival and the time stamped on the bins stating when it was packed. The bin may include a datalogger and instructions to follow if 2-8 degrees C has been exceeded.

6. Note: you will receive by email and/or be able to see your courier tracking ticket on the website when your stock has been dispatched. We would appreciate it if you would restrict calls to HCL and only make contact in the event that you do not receive such notice before 2 April or there is a delay of more than 48 hours between receipt of such notice and delivery of your stock. For all other queries, please email us on Flu@healthcarelogistics.co.nz

Lastly, Afluria Quad and Afluria Quad Junior are presentations with needles attached. However, Fluad Quad is a needless presentation. You will need to purchase needles from EBOS or your wholesaler in order to administer this vaccine. HCL does not have supplies.