The National Immunisation Schedule was updated in 2020.
On this page:
- Updated schedule of vaccines
- Updating Well Child books with the new Immunisation Schedule
- Funded vaccines for high risk groups
- Immunisation programme decisions
From 1 July 2020 the brand of varicella and Hepatitis B vaccine used changed, Tdap replaced ADT vaccine, and the 3-month dose of pneumococcal vaccine was removed. From 1 October 2020 a new event was added at age 12 months so that MMR vaccine is now given at 12 months and 15 months of age, rather than 15 months and 4 years.
Updated schedule of vaccines
This schedule of vaccines applies from 1 October 2020.
Links in the table above provide more information about the diseases and the vaccines that prevent them.
Updating Well Child books with the new Immunisation Schedule
Well Child Tamariki Ora My Health Books printed before 2020 include an old Immunisation Schedule. From October 2020, a new event was added at 12 months of age and PCV10 now scheduled at 6 weeks, 5 months and 12 months only. Two stickers have been created that add the new 12-month event to the existing schedule and immunisation record pages of the older books. Both stickers, as well as printable pdf versions, are available to download here or order via HealthEd (code HE2609).
Follow these instructions to ensure the changes to the schedule are correctly captured:
- HE2609 Updating the Immunisation Schedule in Well Child books (Word, 519 KB)
- HE2609 Updating the Immunisation Schedule in Well Child books (PDF, 173 KB)
Funded vaccines for high risk groups
Publicly funded hepatitis A, hepatitis B, haemophilus influenzae type b, human papillomavirus, influenza, meningococcal ACWY, pertussis (Tdap), pneumococcal, tuberculosis and varicella vaccines are available for children and adults at high risk of some diseases due to other medical conditions. For more details see the Additional Funded vaccines for special groups page of the Immunisation Handbook.
As part of the schedule change, meningococcal C will only be available for high risk children less than 9 months, with those 9 months and older eligible for meningococcal ACWY.
Immunisation programme decisions
For information about how New Zealand's National Immunisation Schedule is determined and administered, see immunisation programme decisions.