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2.1 Authorised Vaccinators

Authorised Vaccinators are registered health professionals who have completed foundation vaccinator training, undergone a clinical assessment by an immunisation coordinator or an approved assessor, and are authorised by a Medical Officer of Health. They can deliver all vaccines listed on the New Zealand Immunisation Schedule and any other vaccines that are part of an approved immunisation programme to all eligible groups, according to the conditions of their vaccinator authorisation. They may also administer vaccines nationwide, not just in the district where they were authorised.

To maintain authorisation, they must adhere to the requirements in the Immunisation Handbook (external link), including: 

  • Complete update training
  • Have a current Annual Practising Certificate (APC)
  • Have a valid and relevant CPR Certification. 

Training 

For registered health professionals with an APC and appropriate scope of practice to administer vaccinations to become a vaccinator, they must complete the Flexible Learning Vaccinator Foundation Course. (external link) This includes 14 hours of self-directed online learning followed by a 4-hour classroom tutorial.

Following this training a vaccinator will complete a clinical assessment. Some districts may offer a wānanga based training option which may offer the combined training package as well as an opportunity to complete assessment.

Authorisation

Once training is completed, health professionals will need to apply to their local Medical Officer of Health (MOoH) for authorisation.

A current Authorised Vaccinator needs to complete update training (external link) every two years to maintain their authorisation. 

2.1.1 Authorised Vaccinators transitioning to whole-of-life authorised vaccinators

2.1.1 Authorised Vaccinators transitioning to whole-of-life authorised vaccinators

After successful completion of their update training, they must reapply for authorisation through their local Medical Officer of Health.  

The transition pathway to whole-of-life authorisation is designed to support knowledge and skill development in childhood immunisation if an Authorised Vaccinator has not had recent experience vaccinating children under 3 years of age.

To upskill, an Authorised Vaccinator will need to: 

1. Successfully complete Extending Vaccinator Skills (whole-of-life) course (external link).

2. Apply for authorisation, which will enable the vaccinator to:  

  • Administer national schedule vaccines to all age ranges, without the need for a standing order or prescription. 
  • Administer vaccines to people under three years of age, under direct supervision, whilst gaining experience and confidence to complete a clinical assessment for a person under two years of age. 

3. Complete supervised practice. 

4. Complete a workbook. 

5. Successfully complete a clinical assessment on a person under two years of age. 

6. Submit their workbook and clinical assessment documentation to the Health NZ Workforce Request portal. (external link)

 

Authorised vaccinators who wish to undertake this process should discuss it with their local Immunisation Coordinator or email vaccinatorauthorisations@tewhatuora.govt.nz

2.2 Pharmacist Vaccinators & Intern Pharmacist Vaccinators

Pharmacist Vaccinators and Intern Pharmacists Vaccinators can vaccinate under the Medicines Regulations 1984 medicine classification statements. They must complete foundation vaccinator training and a clinical assessment by an Immunisation Coordinator or an approved assessor.

Pharmacist Vaccinators and Intern Pharmacist Vaccinators must maintain all documentation and evidence that demonstrates they meet the Immunisation Standards for Vaccinators, as outlined in the Immunisation Handbook. (external link) This includes evidence of: 

  • Clinical assessment 
  • Current Annual Practising Certificate 
  • Valid and relevant CPR Certification
  • All training courses, including update training. 

Training 

If a pharmacist or intern pharmacist would like to become a pharmacist vaccinator, they must complete the Flexible Learning Vaccinator Foundation Course. (external link) This includes 14 hours of self-directed online learning followed by a 4-hour classroom tutorial. 

The Pharmacist and Intern Pharmacist webpage (external link) includes more detailed information.

Authorisation

If a pharmacist or intern pharmacist wishes to become an authorised vaccinator to extend their scope, they will need to complete training and apply to their local Medical Officer of Heath for authorisation.

2.2.1 Pharmacist Vaccinators transitioning to whole-of-life authorised vaccinators

2.2.1 Pharmacist Vaccinators transitioning to whole-of-life authorised vaccinators

Pharmacist vaccinators can upskill to become Authorised Vaccinators. This will mean they can administer vaccines to people aged 3 years and over. Once they have received authorisation, they may wish to complete further training to administer vaccines to people 6 weeks of age and over (whole-of-life). They will need to: 

1. Successfully complete Extending Vaccinator Skills (whole-of-life) course (external link). 

2. Apply for authorisation, which will enable the vaccinator to: 

  • Administer national schedule vaccines to all age ranges, without the need for a standing order or prescription. 
  • Administer vaccines to people under three years of age, under direct supervision, whilst gaining experience and confidence to complete a clinical assessment for a person under two years of age. 

3. Complete supervised practice. 

4. Complete a workbook. 

5. Successfully complete a clinical assessment on a person under two years of age. 

6. Submit their workbook and clinical assessment documentation to the Health NZ Workforce Request portal. (external link)

 

Pharmacists who wish to undertake this process should discuss it with their local Immunisation Coordinator or email vaccinatorauthorisations@tewhatuora.govt.nz

2.3 Vaccinating Health Worker

The Vaccinating Health Worker (VHW) role is for pharmacy technicians, community health care workers, healthcare assistants and kaiāwhina to prepare and/or administer a range of vaccines after a period of training and authorisation.

There are two stages to the VHW role: 

  • Stage 1: VHWs will be able to administer COVID-19 (Pfizer) and the influenza vaccines for 12 years+ and vaccines for Human Papillomavirus (HPV9) and Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis (Tdap; whooping cough) for 11 years+.  
  • Stage 2: VHWs will be able to prepare and administer all vaccines outlined in Stage 1, including administering COVID-19 (Pfizer) and influenza to 5 years+, and MMR for 5 years+.

VHWs need to be authorised through the Health NZ Workforce Request portal (external link) and have gained experience as a Stage 1 VHW before gaining access to VHW Stage 2 training.

The VHW operating model is a team-based approach. VHWs work under the clinical supervision and direction of a registered health professional and cannot obtain informed consent from the consumer.

The employer’s role is to support the training of their staff to become a VHW or VHW Clinical Supervisor, and to ensure all vaccinators and supervisors are working within their scope. 

Training 

For all information related to the VHW role, including training and authorisation requirements, visit the Health NZ vaccinator workforce webpage (external link).

A course is also available for Clinical Supervisors of VHW through IMAC. (external link)

2.4 Midwives

As part of the midwifery scope of practice (external link), a midwife may consider offering vaccinations to those who are in their care. This includes pregnancy immunisations (Tdap, Influenza and Covid-19), postnatal (HPV, MMR & Tdap), neonate (Hepatitis - alongside HBIG) and other national immunisation schedule vaccines, including those for a high-risk schedule.

A midwife is not required to complete authorised vaccinator training.

In July 2025, Te Tatau o e te Whare Kahu | New Zealand Midwifery Council approved colleague-to-colleague vaccinations as expanded practice within the Midwifery Scope of Practice under certain conditions. More information can be found on the IMAC midwives resource page (external link).

Midwives offering immunisations are recommended to complete the free IMAC online module Maternal immunisation essentials for midwives (external link) as well as view relevant IMAC webinars such as the ‘Flu and Friends 2025 Influenza, Covid-19 and RSV’ and ‘Pertussis – a reminder of the basics.’ Links to these are found on the IMAC webinars (external link) page.  

For information on claiming administration fees for vaccination events please refer to Section C – Onboarding.

2.5 Additional information

Second checker course 

The Second Checker course (external link) is for non-registered team members such as kaiāwhina, health care assistants, administration staff, pharmacy technicians and assistants to enable them to complete specific checks of the vaccine preparation process in settings where there is limited clinical staff onsite.  It is a prerequisite for entry to the VHW Stage 2 training. You can access this free course through IMAC (external link).

Authorisation

It is the responsibility of each vaccinator to ensure they maintain their relevant training and authorisation requirements (including current CPR certification as per Immunisation Handbook) and only practice within their scope.

For any questions related to authorisation, including how to apply, please contact vaccinatorauthorisations@tewhatuora.govt.nz.