Auckland, Jan 28 NZPA - New Zealand might still be basking in midsummer, but health officials are advising people to start booking their influenza vaccinations.

Waikato District Health Board medical officer of health Dr Felicity Dumble has recommended that people start making plans for immunisation as New Zealand prepares for a second wave of the deadly H1N1 "swine flu" pandemic.

The experience in the Northern Hemisphere indicated that the flu season might arrive earlier than usual this year, she said.

A seasonal flu vaccination, which includes protection against swine flu and two other influenza strains, will be available in six weeks.

However, the Ministry of Health is also offering an "early bird" single-strain vaccine against swine flu from next week to people deemed particularly at risk from the pandemic.

They include children under five enrolled in designated general practices, pregnant women, people with certain medical conditions, the morbidly obese and frontline healthcare workers.

Dr Dumble said there was limited stock of the "early bird" vaccine and not all GPs would be able to provide it.

"However, it's extremely important that as many people as possible get the seasonal influenza vaccine that contains protection against pandemic H1N1 and seasonal strains when it arrives in March."

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