COVID Vaccine Technical Advisory Group (CV TAG) memos

The information below sets out COVID Vaccine Technical Advisory Group (CV TAG) memos. CV TAG provided science advice and recommendations on the use of COVID-19 vaccinations. CV TAG ceased 25 March 2023.

These memos were previously hosted on the Health New Zealand website but have been transferred to the Ministry of Health.

Wider records of COVID-19 response advice are available on government websites including the following pages:

• COVID-19 proactive releases – DPMC website
• COVID-19 immunisation programme Cabinet papers and minutes

2021

February

• Decision to use the Pfizer mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (PDF, 115 KB) (5 February)

March

• Reduction of 30 minute observation time for Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine (PDF, 88 KB) (8 March)
• Definition of co-morbidities (PDF, 265 KB) (17 March)
• Recommendations on use of COVID-19 vaccine with respect to patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy (PDF, 231 KB) (17 March)
• Recommendations for COVID-19 vaccinations in children (PDF, 86 KB) (25 March)

April

• Pfizer dosing regimen for those arriving in New Zealand (PDF, 199 KB) (13 April)
• Testing guidance post vaccination (PDF, 205 KB) (20 April)

May

• The use of a COVID-19 vaccines during an outbreak (PDF, 135 KB) (12 May)
• Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in pregnancy (PDF, 77 KB) (27 May)
• Decision to use Pfizer mRNA COVID-19 vaccine for group three and general population (PDF, 80 KB) (27 May)

June

• Decision to use Pfizer for 12–15 years (PDF, 88 KB) (24 June)

July

• Decision to use Janssen COVID-19 vaccine (PDF, 80 KB) (12 July)
• Myocarditis following vaccination (PDF, 193 KB) (21 July)

August

• Priority groups for Pfizer mRNA COVID-19 vaccination among 12 to 15 year olds (PDF, 128 KB) (4 August)
• Extending age groups who can receive COVID-19 vaccine (PDF 71 KB) (13 August)
• Recommendations for first dose prioritisation during outbreak (PDF, 124 KB) (20 August)
• Coadministration of the COVID-19 vaccine with other vaccines (PDF, 139 KB) (27 August)

September

• Guidance for the potential use of an extension or third dose in the context of a missed vaccination incident (PDF, 218 KB) (6 September)
• Other COVID-19 vaccines to recognise for work undertaken at the border (PDF, 167 KB) (6 September)
• Additional vaccine dose in the immunocompromised (PDF, 286 KB) (21 September)
• COVID-19 vaccines for arrivals to Aotearoa New Zealand (PDF, 884 KB) (29 September)

October

• COVID-19 vaccination for RSE workers (PDF, 137 KB) (1 October)
• Decision to use AstraZeneca (PDF, 171 KB) (27 October)

November

• Medical exemptions (PDF, 148 KB) (3 November)
• Definition of fully vaccinated within New Zealand (PDF, 235 KB) (5 November)
• Booster vaccinations (PDF, 193 KB) (10 November)
• Third Primary Pfizer mRNA COVID-19 vaccine dose in the immunocompromised (PDF, 234 KB) (17 November)

December

• Vaccination mandates in those under 18 years of age (PDF, 93 KB) (9 December)
• Pfizer mRNA COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5–11 years (PDF, 294 KB) (15 December)
• Booster vaccinations update (PDF, 959 KB) (17 December)

2022

January

• Booster vaccinations for pregnant people and immunocompromised (PDF, 503 KB) (25 January)

February

• Recommendations on the COVID-19 booster vaccination interval for 18 years and over (PDF, 673 KB) (1 February)
• AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine as a booster for those aged 18 years and over 3 months after primary vaccine (PDF, 96 KB) (10 February)
• Decision to use Novavax for primary course (PDF, 158 KB) (10 February)
• Dose interval 5-11 year olds (PDF, 360 KB) (16 February)
• The use of booster vaccinations in 12–17-year olds (PDF, 321 KB) (21 February)

March

• Vaccination after infection (PDF, 188 KB) (22 March)
• Third primary dose in immunocompromised 5 to 11 year olds (PDF, 275 KB) (22 March)
• Booster doses after myocarditis/pericarditis (PDF, 454 KB) (30 March)

April

• Fourth dose for at risk groups – second boosters (PDF, 459 KB) (1 April)

May

• Novavax as heterologous booster (PDF, 275 KB) (6 May)

June

• Second booster update (PDF, 348 KB) (22 June)

August

• Extending second booster eligibility to 30 to 49 year olds (PDF, 1.34 MB) (10 August)
• Use of Novavax in 12–17 year olds (PDF, 134 KB) (25 August)

November

• Extending second booster eligibility to Māori and Pacific peoples aged 40–49 (PDF, 825 KB) (1 November)
• Recommendations for vaccinations in children under 5 (PDF, 2.5 MB) (24 November)

2023

February

• Update on intervals and booster eligibility (PDF, 12 MB) (10 February)

March

• Booster eligibility addendum (PDF, 364 KB) (24 March)