Vaccinations
Onsite Vaccinations

Accredited Pharmacist Vaccinator on site at all times

Are you thinking about ways to stay even healthier? We offer vaccinations that protection against influenza, also called the flu, whooping cough and shingles. We are one of the first pharmacies in New Zealand where our certified Pharmacists are authorised to vaccinate on site without a Doctor. Our friendly team will ensure that your experience will be as comfortable and seamless as possible.

With your permission, we can also send the vaccination details to your Doctor so your records will be always up to date.

Getting a vaccination is easy and convenient at Life Pharmacy St Lukes.

No appointment required for flu and whooping cough vaccinations.*

*Due to time constraints this service may be unavailable within 30 minutes before closing.
Vaccination Cost Appointment Required
1 Influenza (Flu) $45 No
2 Pertussis (Whooping Cough) $60 No
3 Shingles $230 Yes
Group bookings or corporates for over 10 people may be eligible for a reduced price. Please enquire for options available.
Vaccinations and Pregnancy

Don’t assume you are immune and if you are pregnant, talk to our Pharmacist about the Flu vaccine as you are able to get this for FREE.

The Whooping cough vaccine is also available to pregnant women from 28 - 38 weeks but is unfunded through pharmacy. It is also important to ensure that those close family members and siblings who will be around a baby are immunised against whooping cough so there is a circle of protection for your baby.

Frequently Asked Questions
Can a flu shot give you the flu?

No, a flu shot cannot cause flu illness. Some people report having mild reactions to flu vaccination. The most common reaction to the flu shot in adults has been soreness, redness or swelling at the spot where the shot was given. This usually lasts less than two days. This initial soreness is most likely the result of the body’s early immune response reacting to a foreign substance entering the body.

Other reactions following the flu shot are usually mild and can include a low grade fever and aches. If these reactions occur, they usually begin soon after the shot and last 1-2 days. The most common reactions people have to flu vaccine are considerably less severe than the symptoms caused by actual flu illness.

Can I get this free of charge if I'm usually qualified for funding?

Currently we are only able to provide fully funded Flu vaccinations to patients who are pregnant or for those who are over the age of 65.

Do you administer Flu vaccinations for children?

We are able to administer Flu vaccinations to patients who are over the age of 13. We recommend children under 13 years of age to be vaccinated at their family GP or medical centre.

Where is the injection site?

The flu and whooping cough vaccine are administered intramuscularly in the shoulder of the upper arm (deltoid) and the shingles vaccine is administered subcutaneously in the shoulder of the upper arm (deltoid).

I’ve got a cold, can I still have the flu vaccination done?

Minor illness with or without fever is not usually a contra-indication, however our Pharmacist will help assess alongside the consent form to determine if it is suitable on the day.

How long after vaccination does it take for antibodies to be produced

It takes up to an average of two weeks for the vaccines to give full protection.

Can I get multiple vaccinations at the same time?

The vaccinations we provide can be administered on the same time, one after another, ie. flu and whooping cough vaccine, shingles and flu vaccine, etc.

Do I really need a flu vaccine every year?

Yes. It is recommended a yearly flu vaccine for just about everyone even when the viruses the vaccine protects against have not changed from the previous season. The reason for this is that a person’s immune protection from vaccination declines over time, so an annual vaccination is needed to get the “optimal” or best protection against the flu.

Which strains of the influenza virus are covered by the vaccine this year's vaccine?

The influenza virus has many types. Each year the World Health Organization makes recommendations for the strains that are in the influenza vaccine and the strains that should be circulating around New Zealand.

Our FluQuadri Quadrivalent vaccine protection is formulated to contain the following four influenza strains recommended for the 2018 influenza season:
A/Michigan/45/2015 (H1N1) pdm09-like virus
A/Singapore/INFIMH-16-0019/2016 (H3N2)-like virus
B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus
B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus