The Vaccinating Health Worker: Stage 1 - Core is designed as an introduction to immunisation for individuals who wish to go on and become an authorised Vaccinating Health Worker: Stage 1. Completing this course will provide you with the required background knowledge to move into the specific vaccine related courses needed to become an authorised VHW Stage 1.
On completion of this course, you must also complete additional training, which is organised by your employer. Required training:
It is strongly recommended that you have completed the CPR course before attending the IMAC practical workshop.
VHW Stage 1 - Core will allow you to:
Move on to the VHW Stage 1 - vaccine specific courses and further training organised by your employer, essential steps in becoming an Authorised VHW Stage 1.
You will already be working or interested in working in the health sector – for example, as a pharmacy technician, kaiāwhina, community health worker or healthcare assistant. Alternatively, you may have been trained as a health professional in New Zealand or overseas but you do not currently holding a NZ practising certificate.
This online learning is just the first step in becoming an authorised VHW Stage 1. Following completion of this online learning you will need to do at least one vaccine specific module; Vaccinating Health Worker: Stage 1 - Comirnaty (ages 12+ yrs) & influenza vaccine and/or Vaccinating Health Worker: Stage 1 - HPV9 & Tdap. Pease have your employer contact your local IMAC clinical coordinator to progress this once you have done the core course.
This course will provide theory on:
At the end of the theory lesson, you will complete a multiple choice assessment.
After completing the assessment we'd really appreciate it if you can give us some feedback. This helps us improve the course for others.
Te Whatu Ora VHW Capability Matrix (version 2, 12 August 2022)
Te Whatu Ora VHW Information Sheets for Employers, Clinical Supervisors and VHWs.
Manatū Hauora VHW information on their website
For questions on the authorisation process, please email vaccinatorauthorisations@health.govt.nz.
Once you have completed your vaccine specific course your employer can contact your local IMAC facilitator to book you in for a practical session for Stage 1.
For general course registration questions, please email: imaceducation@auckland.ac.nz.
For other training and onboarding support questions, please email the local IMAC clinical coordinator.
Northern Region
Sandra Prinsloo, Immunisation Education Facilitator
sandra.prinsloo@auckland.ac.nz
Midlands Region
Chantel Punter, Immunisation Education Facilitator
chantel.punter@auckland.ac.nz
Central Region
Janine Emrys, Immunisation Education Facilitator
janine.emrys@auckland.ac.nz
Southern Region
Karen Cague, Immunisation Education Facilitator
karen.cague@auckland.ac.nz