It comes just after another wave of Covid-19, and Roslyn Pharmacy manager Andrew Hou said it was important people were not complacent about it.
"The uptake of the influenza vaccine in the southern region has not been as great as it has been in the past.
"From a health and community perspective, it is so important."
Mr Hou said there had "generally been a trend" of high rates of the H3N2 strain of influenza, which the World Health Organisation had warned about.
This strain was covered in the vaccines, he said.
"It’s not like getting a cold — it’s a whole other tier."
University of Otago epidemiologist Prof Michael Baker said it was "hard to tell" whether this strain of influenza was more virulent than others.
"However, it has led more people to hospital than usual for a respiratory illness.
"There appears to be a higher rate of reportage of influenza from people. It’s certainly returned."
There was no influenza season in 2020 and 2021, Prof Baker said, because of the Covid-19 lockdowns.
"But it returned with vengeance in 2022 and last year.
"It seems that this year’s peak is the highest for some years. We're likely at the top of the peak; most signs point to it trending downwards for the season, but it’s still something you have to watch out for."
Covid-19 was also present in the community, and Prof Baker encouraged people to also get their Covid-booster shots as well as vaccinating for influenza if they had not already.
"There is definitely still some benefit in getting vaccinated."
Prof Baker said people should remain mindful of influenza’s effects, stay home when sick and wear masks on public transport.
