Immunisation Handbook 2017

The Immunisation Handbook 2017 (the Handbook) provides clinical guidelines for health professionals on the safest and most effective use of vaccines in their practice. These guidelines are based on the best scientific evidence available at the time of publication, from published and unpublished literature.

Published online: 
09 March 2018
Immunisation Handbook 2017.

Read the handbook

To read the Immunisation Handbook you can:

Refer to the Pharmaceutical Schedule (on the Pharmac website) for the number of funded doses, eligibility criteria and any subsequent changes to the funding decisions.

Immunisation Handbook 2017 (2nd edition) – March 2018

The electronic Handbook has been updated, and a new edition published: Immunisation Handbook 2017 (2nd edition).

Major changes, in chapter order, are:

  • Chapter 4 Immunisation of Special Groups: updated to include the herpes zoster vaccine funding from 1 April 2018, and new information about immune checkpoint inhibitors
  • Chapter 8 Hepatitis B – includes information about the temporary brand change of the single antigen hepatitis B vaccine (from HBvaxPRO to Engerix-B)
  • Chapter 10 Influenza – includes the change from trivalent to quadrivalent influenza vaccine (Fluarix Tetra and Influvac Tetra) and new information about immune checkpoint inhibitors
  • Chapter 13 Mumps – updated to align with the latest version of the ‘Mumps’ chapter of the Communicable Disease Control Manual 2012
  • Chapter 14 Pertussis – updated to align with the latest version of the ‘Pertussis’ chapter of the Communicable Disease Control Manual 2012
  • Chapter 22 Zoster – updated to reflect the herpes zoster vaccine funding from 1 April 2018.

Detailed changes are described in Changes to the Immunisation Handbook 2017 (2nd edition) (PDF, 459 KB).

From 1 July 2020 the following changes are: 

  • PCV10 pneumococcal primary vaccination schedule changes from three doses plus a booster to a two dose plus booster schedule given at 6 weeks and 5 months with a booster at 15 months. The PCV13 vaccinations for those at high risk will continue to be given at 6 weeks, 3, 5, and 15 months
  • Tdap replaces the funded Td for those aged 45 years who have not had four previous had four tetanus-containing vaccines in their lifetime and for those aged 65 years. Tdap will also replace the Td given for tetanus-prone wounds.

Individual chapters

Publishing information

  • Date of publication:
    09 March 2018
  • ISBN:
    978-1-98-853952-2 (online); 978-1-98-853953-9 (epub)
  • HP number:
    6787
  • Citation:
    Ministry of Health. 2018. Immunisation Handbook 2017 (2nd edn). Wellington: Ministry of Health.
  • Ordering information:
    Hard copy available to be ordered, also soft copy available to download
  • Copyright status:

    Owned by the Ministry of Health and licensed for reuse under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence.

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Immunisation Handbook

Note: Hard copies of the 2017 (1st edition) are available for ordering but are only available to health providers.

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Page last updated: 01 July 2020

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