Waikato residents are being urged to get their annual influenza immunisation before the disease enters the community.
Vaccine has arrived in GP surgeries and now is the best time to be vaccinated as it can take up to two weeks from vaccination to develop immunity.
"Influenza is a serious illness with severe effects, including hospitalisation, complications and even death," says Waikato DHB immunisation co-ordinator Kim Hunter.
Influenza causes an estimated 400 deaths annually in New Zealand, either directly or indirectly.
Last year it put more than 1000 people in hospital.