One former Finance Minister has voiced support for introducing a comprehensive vaccination program aimed towards older New Zealanders.

A new report has revealed that a publicly funded vaccination program for the flu, shingles and RSV directed at over-65s would create an economic benefit of over $1 billion over four years.

Steven Joyce says health systems all over the world are under pressure - and a new solution is needed.

"What attracted me to this is - we know about the benefit of vaccinations to children, there's a huge increase in life expectancy that occurred as a result of that. When you look at it this way, it's just as much of a no-brainer." 

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