Health and wellbeing services

Immunisations

Getting immunised is the best thing you can do to keep yourself, your whānau and those who are vulnerable in our communities safe from serious, infectious diseases.

The National Immunisation Schedule is the series of vaccines that are offered free to babies, children, adolescents and adults.

National Immunisation Schedule

Childhood Immunisations

Vaccination	When to get it
Rotavirus (start first dose before 15 weeks) Rotarix Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis/Polio/ Hepatitis B/Haemophilus influenzae type b Infanrix Pneumococcal Synflorix	6 weeks old
Rotavirus (second dose must be given before 25 weeks) Rotarix Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis/Polio/ Hepatitis B/Haemophilus influenzae type b Infanrix	3 months old
Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis/Polio/ Hepatitis B/Haemophilus influenzae type b Infanrix Pneumococcal Synflorix	5 months
Measles/Mumps/Rubella Priorix Pneumococcal Synflorix	12 months
Haemophilus influenzae type b Hiberix Measles/Mumps/Rubella Priorix Varicella (Chickenpox) Varivax	15 months
Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis/Polio Infranrix-IPV	4 years
Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis Boostrix Human Papillomavirus (HPV) 2 injections given at least 6 months apart for those aged 14 and under 3 injections given over 6 months for those aged 15 and older Offered from 11/12 years old through to the 27th birthday Gardasil	11 or 12 years (normally given in schools)

Adult Immunisations

Vaccination	When to get it
Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis - booster for those who have not already received 4 doses of the tetanus vaccine Boostrix	45 years
Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis - booster Boostrix Zoster (shingles) 2 injections Shingrix Influenza - annual Afluria	65 years
Measles/Mumps/Rubella Priorix	Anyone born on/after 1 January 1969 who has not received 2 MMR doses

Pregnancy Immunisations

Vaccination	When to get it
Influenza (Flu) Afluria	1 injection annually, at any stage of pregnancy
Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis (whooping cough) Boostrix	1 injection, during the second or third trimester of pregnancy

Where can I get vaccinated for free?

Vaccines on the National Immunisation Schedule are free.

Other vaccines are funded only for people at particular risk of disease.

You can choose to pay for vaccines that you are not eligible to receive for free.

Where you can receive free vaccinations:

Ask your GP. Your GP may also call you or your parent/caregiver to offer an appointment.
You can get free immunisations at some pharmacies if you’re 16 or older. You don’t need an appointment, you can just turn up.
A health professional may offer you a free immunisation when you’re at a community event, at school or at work. The 11 and 12-year-old vaccines as part of the National Immunisation Schedule are offered in schools
If you want to organise a pop-up clinic in your area, contact Andrea on 027 246 0938.

Measles, Mumps & Rubella (MMR) Immunisation

The MMR vaccine is free and part of the childhood immunisation schedule for children at 12 months and 15 months of age. If you don’t know if you’ve been fully immunised against measles, it’s best to get immunised. It’s safe to have an extra dose of the MMR vaccine.

The Measles, Mumps & Rubella Vaccine

Who should get the MMR vaccine?

Anyone born on/after 1 January 1969 who has not had two doses of the MMR vaccine should have the MMR vaccine.
Adults born before 1969 are considered to be immune to measles as measles was very infectious before 1969, and there was no vaccine available in Aotearoa New Zealand until then, so most adults were highly likely to be exposed. The MMR vaccine may still be needed for protection from mumps and rubella – check with your doctor if you are not sure.

Where to go to get immunised

Ask your GP for a free MMR immunisation. Your GP may also call you or your parent/caregiver to offer an appointment.
You can get a free MMR immunisation at some pharmacies if you’re 16 or older. You don’t need an appointment, you can just turn up.
A health professional may offer you a free MMR immunisation when you’re at a community event, at school or at work
If you want to organise a pop-up clinic in your area, contact Andrea on 027 246 0938.

If you don’t know if you’ve been fully immunised against measles, mumps and rubella, it’s best to get immunised. It’s safe to have an extra dose of the MMR vaccine.

Measles and the MMR vaccine

This video from the Immunisation Advisory Centre (University of Auckland) is a quick summary of measles facts, made during New Zealand’s 2016 measles outbreaks.

Measles in NZ 2016 from The Immunisation Advisory Centre on Vimeo.

Click here to learn more about the importance of immunisation against measles

Funded vaccines for high-risk groups

Please discuss this with your practice nurse or GP about your eligibility for additionally funded vaccines. These are for children and adults at high risk of some diseases due to other medical conditions and include: