Bay of Plenty doctors and nurses are encouraging residents to get their flu jab as the winter peak in demand draws closer.
The Ministry of Health has distributed more than one million doses of the seasonal influenza vaccine and was encouraging New Zealanders to get vaccinated.
Director of public health from the Ministry of Health Dr Caroline McElnay said every year people died from influenza.
She said the ministry was particularly encouraging people who were over 65 years old, pregnant or who had a long term health condition, to get vaccinated.
Practice manager at The Doctors Bureta in Welcome Bay Simone Hunter said there was definitely a peak in demand around this time of year, especially heading into winter.