Version 5 of the 2025 Immunisation Handbook has now been published.

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You can find it on the Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora website (including a PDF download version).

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Vaccinators are encouraged to regularly check the Immunisation Handbook on the Health New Zealand website and use the most current available version.

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The main updates for this version are:

• New evidence from Global Vaccine Data Network study on mRNA-CV and reduced Guillain-Barré syndrome risk (section 5.7.2)

• HPV: allowance for 5 months dose-gap recommendation for the two-dose programme to facilitate timely vaccination (section 10.5.1). Change also added to Table 10.3 HPV recommendations and schedules. 
• Replacement of details on post-exposure prophylaxis and restriction of measles cases or contacts, with link to the Communicable Disease Manual (section 12.8)
• Meningococcal:
   
  • Updated eligibility of MenB to age 59 months
   
  • New datasheet information regarding headache and myalgia in adolescents when receiving concomitant MenACWY and MenB vaccines (section 13.7.2)
   
  • Removed upper age limit for adults age over 50 years for MenB vaccine (table 13.6)
• Written consent no longer required for mpox vaccine – should document informed consent (section 14.4.4)
• Poliomyeltitis:
   
  • Updated guidance for when bOPV was administered overseas since 2016 (section 18.5.2).
   
  • Updated polio vaccine catch-up principles. If under 10 years of age recommend 3 doses of IPV, regardless of OPV received as bOPV given since 2016 is not counted as a valid polio vaccine dose (appendix 2)

• Updated wording to reflect Pharmac confirmation that rZV dose 2 is funded at any age when dose 1 is given at age 65 years (section 25.5)
• Catchup for DTaP vaccination:
   
  • Removed statement regarding 5-month gap between second and third doses of primary series of DTaP-IPV-HepB/Hib (appendix 2 A2.2)
   
  • Adjusted DTaP catch-up principles – recommendation to give DTaP-IPV-HepB/Hib at 4 years (appendix 2, A2.2)

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