Adrenaline: Standing Order requirement for authorised vaccinators

Please read and act on this information as soon as possible.

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Recent clarification from Health New Zealand confirms that while there has been no change to the Medicines Regulations 1984, authorised vaccinators administering adrenaline for post-vaccination anaphylaxis require a prescription or a Standing Order.

Vaccinator authorisation is enabled under the Medicines Regulations 1984 (44A), which does not include authorisation to administer adrenaline.

Prior to this communication, administration of adrenaline by authorised vaccinators was understood to have been covered by vaccinator authorisation. At this time, it is not expected that previous administrations of adrenaline by authorised vaccinators are reviewed.

Adrenaline is not a prescription medicine; however, it is a restricted (pharmacist-only) medicine and its administration by non-prescribing registered healthcare professionals (other than pharmacists) requires a prescription or a Standing Order.

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An adrenaline Standing Order template and supporting FAQs are available on Health New Zealand’s Prevention-Immunisation Dropbox.  

• HNZ Dropbox – Standing Order template and supporting FAQs  

Additional resources are linked as follows: 

• Standing Order Guidelines, Ministry of Health, 2016 v2
• Medicines (Standing Order) Regulations 2002
• IMAC management of anaphylaxis
• HealthPathways