Vaccines on the NZ Pharmaceutical Schedule

An immunisation claim cannot be submitted to Sector Operations for a vaccine that is not listed on the New Zealand Pharmaceutical Schedule.

Including NHI numbers in claims

An immunisation claim file must contain at least 85% of valid NHI numbers. Therefore, 15% of the claims do not have to contain NHI numbers provided that they contain both Date of Birth and Surname. However we recommend that you make every effort to obtain a patient’s NHI number and include this in your claim.

Claiming for more than 1 vaccine in a visit

You cannot claim a separate fee for each vaccine.

Only 1 fee will be paid per IMOA (standard administration) — that is, for 1 or more vaccines given on the same visit.

Only 1 IMOA will be paid when influenza vaccine is given with another vaccine at the same visit on the same day. The exception for this is when influenza vaccine is coadministered with zoster vaccine.

See the table below to work out which services to claim based on the vaccinations provided in a single visit.

Vaccination scenario Claim code combination
IMOA IMFA IMFV IMZF
  1. Administration of at least one vaccine (including zoster) other than influenza
Yes      
  1. Administration of influenza vaccine only
  Yes Yes  
  1. Administration of influenza vaccine and at least one other vaccine, with the exception of zoster
Yes   Yes  
  1. Administration of zoster and influenza vaccines only
  Yes Yes Yes
  1. Administration of zoster and influenza vaccines plus at least one other vaccine
Yes   Yes Yes

COVID-19 vaccine administration payments

The Covid-19 vaccine administration payments are additional to national schedule immunisation payments, therefore may be claimed with any national schedule immunisation. Please refer to your Covid-19 immunisation service specification or agreement for further details.  

Submitting an Immunisation Claim and a GMS claim for the same patient and date

Both an Immunisation Claim and a General Medical Service Claim (GMS) may be claimed but only if a full consultation was undertaken with the patient. If the only service provided was an immunisation, then a General Medical Service claim should not be submitted to Sector Operations.

A standard immunisation vaccine and a pre/post splenectomy vaccine on the same day

If a patient receives a standard immunisation vaccine and a pre/post splenectomy vaccine on the same day you are entitled to an extra fee.

An IMOA (standard administration) and IMMB with indication 11 (pre/post splenectomy) should be claimed so that you receive an extra fee.

How to submit a claim if a locum doctor has provided the service

The Payee Number, Agreement Number, Registration Number and name of the host doctor must be provided in addition to the Registration Number and name of the locum.

How to submit a claim if a Nurse Vaccinator provides the service

You can still submit claims. The applicable Payee Number and Contract Number should be provided with the Nursing Council Number of the Nurse Vaccinator. The Payee Number and Contract Number will often be those of the doctor but may be for the nurse if the nurse holds their own agreement.

If your claim rejects and you believe that the correct information was supplied, please contact your PMS vendor for assistance.

Claiming for children who are re-immunised after chemotherapy

General practices are able to submit an immunisation claim for services delivered when children are re-immunised following chemotherapy treatment. The completed Immunisation Benefit Claim Details Form and Immunisation Benefit Claim Summary Form may be submitted to Sector Operations who will seek approval for payment from the DHB.

The indication value that best meets the definition for re-immunisation is 6 - booster.

An Immunisation claim cannot be submitted to Sector Operations for a vaccine that is not listed on the New Zealand Pharmaceutical Schedule.

Vaccination indications and scenarios

See the list of Indication values and their descriptions.

Work out which services to claim based on the vaccinations provided in a single visit on the Vaccine code combinations page.