Appendix 8: Websites and other online resources

In this chapter:

A8.1. New Zealand-based websites
A8.2. International websites
A8.3. Inﬂuenza-related websites
A8.4. Travel-related websites

Download: Appendix 8: Websites and other online resources (pdf, 119 KB)

A8.1. New Zealand-based websites

Ministry of Health

The official website for the Ministry of Health.

Immunisation

Ministry of Health information about immunisation in New Zealand, including vaccination laws and practices, information for parents/guardians, young people and health professionals about the vaccines and the disease they protect against, immunisation coverage, and links to other reputable national and international websites. Electronic versions of the Handbook (pdf, html and ebook) are also available.

COVID-19 vaccines

Ministry of Health information about getting a COVID-19 vaccine, the safety and approval process, types of vaccine and the vaccine rollout plan, including updates for the health sector.

Pregnancy and kids

Ministry of Health information for parents, guardians and whānau about pregnancy, labour and birth, and caring for children during their first five years.

Pharmaceutical Management Agency (PHARMAC)

Information about the medicines (including vaccines) and related products which are funded on the Pharmaceutical Schedule for use in the community and public hospitals. Electronic versions of the Pharmaceutical Schedule and updates (pdf and html) are published on the PHARMAC website (under Tools and resources and Online Pharmaceutical Schedule).

Medsafe – New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority

Information on the regulation of medicines and medical devices in New Zealand and the safe use of medicines, including medicine data sheets for health professionals and consumer medicine information for consumers.

Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd (ESR)

A source of New Zealand infectious disease epidemiology, including regular surveillance reports for a number of diseases.

HealthEd

A source of public health education resources, including immunisation and communicable diseases, for health professionals and the public. Resources can be viewed, downloaded and/or ordered from this site.

Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC)

Information for parents and clinicians, including newsletters for providers of immunisation services in New Zealand.

IMAC: COVID-19 Education

Information for the COVID-19 vaccine workforce, about the COVID-19 vaccination programme and to support the COVID-19 vaccination education programme.

KidsHealth

A joint initiative between the Paediatric Society of New Zealand Inc and the Starship Foundation. The KidsHealth website provides accurate and reliable information about children’s health for New Zealand parents and caregivers, the wider family and whānau, and health professionals working with parents.

Health Promotion Agency (HPA)

The HPA works closely with the Ministry of Health to deliver immunisation messages to the general public.

A8.2. International websites

World Health Organization (WHO)

Vaccines and Immunization
Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals

Sources of statistics, graphs and maps for immunisation profiles, by country. Useful for the practitioner planning vaccination of an immigrant child based on the current Schedule.

The Global Health Observatory

Provides access to a range of data sets and dashboards, including immunisation data and vaccine-preventable disease, including the Immunization dashboard.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

This site includes sections on the vaccines recommended (in the US) by age and for specific groups of people, and also includes safety factsheets for individual vaccines.

Immunize.org (formerly Immunization Action Coalition)

Educational information for both clinicians and parents. This site includes an ‘Unprotected people stories’ section and has its own search facility.

Healthychildren.org – American Academy of Pediatrics

Information for parents and clinicians, which includes colourful (and graphic) pictures. Useful articles include ‘Why immunize your child?’ and ‘Vaccine safety: examine the evidence’.

Institute for Vaccine Safety

Information on the safety of recommended vaccines and current vaccine issues in the media. Based at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA.

National Centre for Immunisation Research & Surveillance (NCIRS)

An Australian-based research organisation that provides independent expert advice on all aspects of vaccine-preventable diseases, vaccine safety, communication and social and other issues related to immunisation.

Sharing Knowledge About Immunisation (SKAI)

An Australian website containing a package of communication strategies and tools to assist in conversations between health providers and families around immunisation. It includes an e-learning module for health providers and a website with information accessible by parents to help inform consent.

A8.3. Inﬂuenza-related websites

National Inﬂuenza Immunisation Programme

Influenza immunisation programme for health professionals. Information for consumers is available on the Ministry of Health website.

Ministry of Health – Pandemic planning and response

Pandemic planning and response information, including the current pandemic influenza alert status and pandemic plans, policies and other guidance for the health sector.

FluTracking

Online surveillance system used to detect the potential spread of influenza, influenza-like respiratory illnesses and COVID-19 within Australia and New Zealand.

Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd – Virological surveillance

Weekly, monthly and annual influenza surveillance reports.

WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Inﬂuenza, Melbourne, Australia

Part of the WHO’s Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System. The Centre analyses influenza viruses currently circulating in the human population in different countries around the world.

WHO – Global Influenza Programme

Information on national influenza centres and vaccine manufacturers around the world, as well as global surveillance data and links to reports of the Weekly Epidemiological Record. It also includes the WHO’s geographical information system for monitoring global inﬂuenza activity. Recent activity is featured in a series of animated maps and news reports, and listings of participating centres, inﬂuenza vaccine manufacturers and related websites are provided and shared through FluNet and FluID.

CDC – Influenza (Flu)

Information for the public and health professionals on inﬂuenza viruses, vaccines, and antiviral agents, and on the clinical features and natural history of human inﬂuenza.