Guidance on establishing and managing a COVID-19 vaccination site, including guidelines for the vaccination workforce and how to provide a clinically safe and quality vaccination service.
On this page:
Operating guidelines
The COVID-19 Vaccine Operating Guidelines help District Health Boards (DHBs) and health providers maintain public safety and make sure that consistent and equitable COVID-19 vaccination practices are in place across New Zealand.
The Operating Guidelines provide guidance on establishing and managing a COVID-19 vaccination site and includes guidelines for the vaccination workforce.
Full guidelines
The content of the Operating Guidelines remains the same, but the content has been reordered to improve flow and logic. The format has changed and the document now meets the Ministry's document control guidelines.
COVID-19 Vaccine Operating Guidelines (PDF, 2.7 MB)
COVID-19 Vaccine Operating Guidelines (Word, 6 MB)
Version 37 – last updated 5 May 2022
Individual sections
For easier reference, the sections of the Operating Guidelines are now available as individual downloads.
Section A: Ready to vaccinate (PDF, 923 KB)
Section A: Ready to vaccinate (Word, 4.5 MB)
Last updated May 2022
Section B: BioNTech/Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine (PDF, 345 KB)
Section B: BioNTech/Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine (Word, 326 KB)
Last updated May 2022
Section C: Paediatric Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine (PDF, 346 KB)
Section C: Paediatric Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine (Word, 294 KB)
Last updated May 2022
Section D: AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine (PDF, 290 KB)
Section D: AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine (Word, 294 KB)
Last updated May 2022
Section E: Novavax COVID-19 vaccine (PDF, 260 KB)
Section E: Novavax COVID-19 vaccine (Word, 183 KB)
Last updated May 2022
Section F: Additional programme guidance variations and incidents (PDF, 307 KB)
Section F: Additional programme guidance variations and incidents (Word, 124 KB)
Last updated 7 April 2022
Appendices
For easier reference, the appendices of the Operating Guidelines are now available as individual downloads.
Appendix A: Site checklist (PDF, 137 KB)
Appendix A: Site checklist (Word, 79 KB)
Last updated 8 March 2022
Appendix B: New facility/site setup (PDF, 199 KB)
Appendix B: New facility/site setup (Word, 194 KB)
Last updated 1 April 2022
Appendix C: Facility/site closure (PDF, 138 KB)
Appendix C: Facility/site closure (Word, 178 KB)
Last updated 8 March 2022
Appendix D: Logistics and inventory management (PDF, 106 KB)
Appendix D: Logistics and inventory management (Word, 129 KB)
Last updated 8 March 2022
Appendix E: Logistics overview cheat sheets (PDF, 118 KB)
Appendix E: Logistics overview cheat sheets (Word, 177 KB)
Last updated May 2022
Appendix F: Links to the National Immunisation Booking System (PDF, 57 KB)
Appendix F: Links to the National Immunisation Booking System (Word, 48 KB)
Last updated September 2021
Appendix G: Vaccination site screening questions (PDF, 75 KB)
Appendix G: Vaccination site screening questions (Word, 70 KB)
Last updated 8 March 2022
Appendix H: Supported decision-making process (PDF, 167 KB)
Appendix H: Supported decision-making process (Word, 354 KB)
Last updated September 2021
Appendix I: NIP adverse event process (PDF, 176 KB)
Appendix I: NIP adverse event process (Word, 200 KB)
NIP incident/adverse event notification form (Word, 183 KB)
Last updated 7 April 2022
Appendix J: Risk mitigations for vaccination sites (PDF, 92 KB)
Appendix J: Risk mitigations for vaccination sites (Word, 159 KB)
Last updated September 2021
Appendix K: Vaccination practice variation according to the COVID19 Protection Framework changes (PDF, 96 KB)
Appendix K: Vaccination practice variation according to the COVID19 Protection Framework changes (Word, 177 KB)
Last updated 8 March 2022
Planning guidelines
These documents outline the planning considerations for different vaccine service delivery models and are intended to support DHBs and providers to plan for vaccine delivery in their communities. They should be read in conjunction with the Operating Guidelines and other relevant Ministry guidance.
Existing accredited vaccination health care facilities
Planning guidance for delivering the vaccine through existing health care settings: general practice, community pharmacy, hauora providers and urgent care centres.
COVID-19 vaccine planning guidance – existing accredited vaccination health care facilities (PDF, 1.02 MB)
Version 3.0 – last updated September 2021
Workplaces
Planning guidance for employers, occupational health providers and DHBs wishing to deliver the vaccine through workplaces.
COVID-19 vaccine planning guidance – workplaces (PDF, 972 KB)
Version 9.0 – last updated 12 August 2021
Community vaccination centres
Planning guidance for delivering the vaccine through fixed or temporary community sites, including marae and faith-based settings.
COVID-19 vaccine planning guidance – community vaccination centres (PDF, 968 KB)
Version 1.0 – last updated 9 July 2021
Drive-through vaccination centres
Supplementary planning guidance for operating drive-through vaccination centres. This document must be read in conjunction with the above guidance for community vaccination centres.
COVID-19 vaccine planning guidance – drive-through vaccination centres (PDF, 876 KB)
Version 1.0 – last updated 5 August 2021
Mass vaccination events
Planning guidance for large pop-up events delivering several thousand vaccinations per day. Smaller events in lower-population areas could be run based on the principles in this document.
COVID-19 vaccine planning guidance – mass vaccination events (PDF, 1.4 MB)
Version 1.0 – last updated 12 August 2021
Schools and kura
Guidance for district health boards (DHBs), vaccination providers, and schools and kura to support planning for school-based COVID-19 vaccination of tamariki and rangatahi aged 5 years and over.
Planning considerations for school- and kura-based COVID-19 vaccination (PDF, 357 KB)
Planning considerations for school- and kura-based COVID-19 vaccination (Word, 604 KB)
Version 1.0 – last updated April 2022