Groups across health, government, business, academia, Māori and communities have been formed to give strategic advice and guidance for the COVID-19 vaccines.
Last updated: 30 March 2023
On this page:
- Partnering with higher-risk communities
- Partnering with Māori and Pacific
- COVID-19 Strategy Taskforce
- Planning and delivery groups
- COVID-19 Vaccine Independent Safety Monitoring Board (CV-ISMB)
We’re working with partners and stakeholders to make sure the widest range of needs, perspectives, concerns and advice are considered.
We work with the Primary Health Care network and others on what the rollout of vaccines might look like for each part of the health system.
Partnering with higher-risk communities
Ensuring equity of outcomes is a key measure of success. We work closely with communities most at risk and where there’s a higher need for the vaccine. This includes protection for Māori, Pacific peoples and our most vulnerable population groups, such as:
- older people
- disabled people
- people living in rural or remote areas
- ethnic communities
- health workers
- essential workers
- border staff.
This approach acknowledges the key risks COVID-19 has to different segments of the population. This includes the need to address equity concerns in health outcomes for Māori and Pacific communities.
Partnering with Māori and Pacific
Māori and Te Tiriti
Iwi and Māori partnerships are critical to the immunisation programme’s success. We’re committed to working with Māori providers and empowering them to deliver COVID-19 immunisation to their communities.
This includes upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles and working in partnership with Māori. This is fundamental to the programme’s success and protecting the unique whakapapa of New Zealand Aotearoa.
Pacific neighbours
We support our Pacific neighbours with access to COVID-19 vaccines and their rollout of an immunisation programme. This includes our six Polynesian Health Corridors partners:
- the Cook Islands
- Niue
- Tokelau
- Sāmoa
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
We purchase enough vaccines to cover these Pacific partners. Working with Pacific governments, other development partners, and technical agencies in the region.
Māori and Pacific providers
All health providers are responsible for the immunisation of the Māori and Pacific people in their communities, but we know that Māori and Pacific providers hold trusted relationships with the whānau they serve. These providers play a crucial role in helping to maximise uptake and achieve equitable coverage for Māori and Pacific people.
The COVID-19 Immunisation Programme partners with Māori and Pacific providers so they can deliver tailored and targeted approaches to their communities as part of the wider COVID-19 vaccination programme rollout.
The Government has committed dedicated funding and resources for Māori and Pacific providers and communities to prepare for this.
COVID-19 Strategy Taskforce
A COVID-19 Vaccine Strategy Taskforce oversees the implementation of the vaccine strategy. The interagency taskforce consists of:
- the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (as the lead agency)
- the Ministry of Health and its regulatory agency Medsafe
- PHARMAC
- the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
A Science and Technical Advisory Group (STAG) supports the taskforce with expert advice about the vaccine strategy work.
Planning and delivery groups
COVID-19 Immunisation Programme Governance Group
The Immunisation Programme Governance Group for COVID-19 vaccine acts as an oversight and assurance body. They oversee progress on purchasing, sequencing and delivery of any successful COVID-19 vaccines.
| Member | Role |
|---|---|
| Dame Dr Karen Poutasi (Chair) | Commissioner, Waikato DHB |
| Dr Ashley Bloomfield | Director-General, Ministry of Health |
| John Whaanga | Deputy Director-General Māori Health, Ministry of Health |
| Steve Maharey | Chair of PHARMAC |
| Chris Seed | Chief Executive and Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade |
| Carolyn Tremain | Chief Executive, MBIE |
| Murray Jack | IT expert and former CEO and Chair of Deloitte |
| Ngāhiwi Tomoana | Chair of the Māori Economic Development Panel and Chair of Ngāti Kahungunu |
| Dr Fa’afetai Sopoaga | Associate Professor, University of Otago |
| Attendee | Role/Representation |
|---|---|
| Jess Hewat | Treasury, Manager Health & ACC attends as Treasury observer |
| Dr Peter Crabtree | An optional attendee as the Chair of the Vaccine Taskforce |
| Mathew Parr | Attends as the COVID-19 Vaccine and Immunisation Programme Director |
| Dr Ian Town | Chief Science Advisor, Ministry of Health, is an optional attendee |
The Immunisation Programme Governance Group for the COVID-19 vaccine held its final meeting on 8 October 2021.
COVID-19 Vaccine and Immunisation Programme Steering Group (SG)
This Steering Group supports programme decision making and provides direction and oversight to the programme team regarding strategic risks, issues and opportunities.
| Member | Role/Representation |
|---|---|
| Dr Ashley Bloomfield (Chair) | Director-General |
| Bridget White | DCE, COVID-19 Health System Response |
| John Whaanga | Deputy Director-General Māori Health |
| Shayne Hunter | Deputy Director-General Data and Digital |
| Maree Roberts | Deputy Director-General System Strategy and Policy |
| Wendy Illingworth | Group Manager Public Health System |
| Michael Dryer | Group Manager National Digital Services |
| Attendee | Role/Representation |
|---|---|
| Astrid Koornneef | Director, National Immunisation Programme |
| Dr Ian Town | Chief Science Advisor, Ministry of Health, is an optional attendee |
| Dr Caroline McElnay | Director Public Health, Ministry of Health, is an optional attendee |
COVID-19 Immunisation Implementation Advisory Group (IIAG)
The Immunisation Implementation Advisory Group (IIAG) provides independent, practical advice to the Ministry of Health on how to plan, prepare and implement a COVID-19 immunisation campaign, in the event suitable vaccines become available.
This group represents a range of sectors and skills who contribute towards providing practical advice to support the COVID-19 Immunisation Programme.
|
Member |
Role/Representation |
|---|---|
| Te Puea Winiata | Co-Chair, Chief Executive Turuki Health Care |
| Keriana Brooking | Co-Chair, Chief Executive Hawkes Bay DHB |
| Dr Helen Petousis-Harris | Vaccine safety and effectiveness |
| Dr Angela Ballantyne | Bioethicist |
| Silao Vaisola-Sefo | Pacific health provider |
| Nicky Birch | Māori communications and engagement specialist |
| Taima Campbell | Nursing representative |
| Kevin Pewhairangi | Pharmacy representative |
| Dr Tristram Ingham | Disability representative |
| Rhonda Sherriff | Aged care representative |
| Loretta Roberts | National Manager, Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC) |
The COVID-19 Immunisation Implementation Advisory Group (IIAG) held its final meeting on 4 February 2022.
COVID-19 Vaccine Independent Safety Monitoring Board (CV-ISMB)
Established in February 2021, the COVID-19 Vaccine Independent Safety Monitoring Board (CV-ISMB) provides advice to the Centre for Adverse Reactions Monitoring (CARM), Medsafe and the Ministry of Health on the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine(s).
The Board:
- assesses potential links between reported adverse events following immunisation (AEFI) and COVID-19 vaccines
- reviews all serious and significant AEFI for the COVID-19 vaccines that are presented for expert opinion (this includes all fatal reports)
- advises Medsafe and the Ministry of Health in relation to the balance of benefits and risks for potential safety concerns under investigation and whether further action is needed
- ensures equity is a key consideration for the collection, monitoring and reporting of adverse events.
Throughout 2021 and the first half of 2022, the Board held meetings every 3 to 4 weeks. In the second half of 2022, the Board met every 6 to 8 weeks. They can call additional meetings if an urgent issue arises internationally or there’s a report of a serious unexpected event.
The Board includes:
|
Name |
Area of expertise |
|
Dr John Tait (Chair) |
Obstetrics |
|
Honorary Associate Professor Hilary Longhurst (Deputy Chair) |
Immunology; Pathology |
|
Dr Nick Cutfield |
Neurology |
|
Associate Professor Matt Doogue |
Clinical Pharmacology; Endocrinology |
|
Dr Maryann Heather |
General Practice; Pacific Health |
|
Dr Tom Hills |
Immunology |
|
Dr Wendy Hunter |
Paediatrics |
|
Ms Saskia Schuitemaker |
Consumer - to represent public interest |
|
Dr Owen Sinclair, Te Rarawa |
Paediatrics, Māori Health |
|
Dr Enver Yousuf |
General Medicine |
|
Honorary Professor Ralph Stewart |
Cardiology |
|
Dr Laura Young |
Haematology |
The Chairperson of the COVID-19 Vaccine Technical Advisory Group (CV-TAG) attends in a non-voting capacity and the Director of the New Zealand Pharmacovigilance Centre attends to present details of reported cases.
The Board may issue a statement outlining any recommendations they have for Medsafe and the Ministry of Health, or ask for their opinion to be included in Medsafe’s Adverse Events Following Immunisation reports.
Recent statements from the Board:
- 30 August 2021 statement
- 20 December 2021 statement
- 11 April 2022 statement
- 20 April 2022 release of interim report
The Board’s Interim Report:
- Interim Report updated – July 2022 (PDF, 1.96 MB) (this statement has been amended following discussion with whanau of one of the people mentioned.)
Board Minutes
Minutes are prepared after each meeting, which are subject to approval at the next meeting – normally 3-4 weeks later. Minutes have been redacted of information that would breach the privacy of natural persons, including the deceased, or that could constitute contempt of court – including all information that is subject to coronial investigation. Redactions are in line with the Official Information Act 1982