New Zealand proposals for influenza vaccines

New Zealand’s Pharmaceutical Management Agency PHARMAC is seeking feedback on a proposal to list two brands of influenza vaccine in the Pharmaceutical Schedule for the 2014, 2015, and 2016 influenza seasons. In summary, this proposal would result in:

• Influvac, Influvac Junior and Fluarix being listed in Section H and Section I of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 January 2014 under the eligibility criteria set by PHARMAC.

• 250,000 doses of Fluarix would be distributed each season in preference to Influvac
and Influvac Junior, after which supplies of Influvac and Influvac Junior would be
expected to meet the remaining demand of the market.
PHARMAC has entered into two provisional agreements, one with the local subsidiary of USA-based Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) relating to Influvac and Influvac Junior, and one with UK pharma major GlaxoSmithKline’s (LSE: GSK) NZ affiliate relating to Fluarix.
If approved, the proposal would result in the following brands of Influenza vaccine being
listed on the Pharmaceutical Schedule from January 1, 2014: