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Measles in New Zealand
Born 1969 or later? Ensure you are protected from measles. Since 2012, all cases of measles in New Zealand came from travellers bringing the disease from overseas. There are currently significant measles outbreaks overseas and outbreaks in New Zealand.
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Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) acute respiratory disease
No vaccine to protect against the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) that was recently identified in China is available. There are ongoing research and development efforts for a vaccine to protect against different coronavirus called MERS-CoV that was first identified in the Middle East in 2012. For the latest New Zealand focused public health advice and information regarding 2019-nCoV acute respiratory disease:
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Refund for unused/expired funded influenza vaccine
Please consider keeping some doses of Afluria Quad or FluQuadri for non-funded vaccination of pregnant women** or travellers to the Northern Hemisphere in early 2020.
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Brief information about the 2020 Influenza Immunisation Programme
The funded influenza vaccines for 20201 AFLURIA® QUAD (Seqirus) is the funded influenza vaccine for adults and children aged 3 years or older. AFLURIA® QUAD JUNIOR (Seqirus) is the funded influenza vaccine for infants and children aged 6–35 months. The influenza strains included in the 2020 quadrivalent influeza vaccines2 A/Brisbane/02/2018 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus A/South Australia/34/2019 (H3N2)-like virus B/Washington/02/2019-like virus
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Zostavax catch-up programme extended
PHARMAC has extended the Zostavax catch-up programme for adults who were 66–80 years of age or older on 1 April 2018 and are still aged under 81 years . Adults who meet this eligibility criteria now have until 31 December 2020* or they turn 81 years of age, whichever occurs first, to receive one funded Zostavax. Adults who were 65 years of age on or after 1 April 2018 do not have an age or time limit to 'catch-up' a missed 65 year old dose. *The catch-up programme was previously due to end on 31 March 2020.
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PHARMAC announces extension to Menactra eligibility
From 1 December 2019, PHARMAC is widening access to meningococcal ACWY vaccine (Menactra®) for people aged 13–25 years in a close-living situation. 
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Boostrix now recommended from 16 weeks of every pregnancy
From 1 July 2019, Boostrix® (Tdap) is funded from the second trimester of every pregnancy and recommended to be administered from 16 weeks.  In response to the published safety and immunogenicity data, PHARMAC extended the eligibility for administration of Tdap to anytime during the second or third trimesters of every pregnancy.
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April 2019 - UPDATE on HBvaxPRO 10mcg and HBvaxPRO 40mcg stock
HBvaxPRO® 5 mcg strength vaccine Stock of the paediatric HBvaxPRO 5mcg/0.5mL vaccine for neonates and children is available at all ProPharma branches. Please ensure you note the change in dose and volume. Engerix-B 20mcg/1mL continues to be the hepatitis B vaccine available for adolescents aged 11–15 years following the two-dose schedule, with the second dose given 4–6 months after the first, and adults aged 20 years or older. HBvaxPRO® 10 mcg strength vaccine is out of stock
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PHARMAC announces Immunisation Schedule from 1 July 2020
The full PHARMAC Immunisation Schedule notification is available on their News/Notifications webpage https://www.pharmac.govt.nz/news/notification-2019-07-30-immunisation. In summary: Brand changes Vaccine Current brand From 1 July 2020
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Infant deaths in Samoa a tragic outcome from error preparing MMR vaccine
The deaths of two infants on 6 July 2018 in Samoa shortly after receiving their MMR immunisations were under investigation by the Samoan Ministry of Health and Samoan Police. However, the inquest was put on hold until the trial of the two nurses who administered the MMR vaccines had been completed. 
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WHO publishes the 2018 Assessment Report of the Global Vaccine Action Plan
  The WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on immunization have released the 2018 Assessment Report   of the Global Vaccine Action Plan.
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Answers to frequent concerns and questions arising from Vaxxed
Vaxxed is a film directed by Andrew Wakefield, the former British gastroenterologist who published fraudulent research that claimed the MMR vaccine caused autism. The film is based on claims that unfavourable safety data on the MMR vaccine was covered up by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The content of the film has been widely discredited by the global medical and scientific communities.
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Last updated: Dec 2019