MenB (Bexsero) vaccine is funded from 1 March 2023 and will become part of the National Immunisation Schedule with a primary course administered at the 3-month and 5-month immunisation events followed by a booster dose at the 12-month vaccination event. Bexsero is approved from 2 months of age, if this option is selected then the second dose can be administered at 4 months and the booster at 12 months. Bexsero is also funded for catch up programmes.
Practices are encouraged to advertise the availability of this funded vaccine catch up programme for children aged 1-5 years and 13-25 years. Please discuss the need for prophylactic paracetamol for children under 2 years pre and post administration of Bexsero vaccine if the opportunity arises at the 6-week immunisation visit.
You may also want to update your Paracetamol standing order to ensure it will accommodate Paracetamol use in this age group and for this indication.
More information on this addition to the schedule and catch up specific information can be found on the IMAC website.
On 1 March 2023 the Pfizer Comirnaty (12+years) purple cap vaccine will be retired and replaced with Pfizer Comirnaty grey cap formulations.
People who are currently not up to date with their boosters will be offered the new bi valent booster.
Please refer to the IMAC website for further resources as they become available.
Information on the upcoming 2023 Influenza Immunisation Programme can be found on the Influenza information for health professionals website. The website is currently being updated with key information for influenza vaccinators such as a summary of 2023 influenza vaccines and data sheets. The website will be progressively updated with information on claiming criteria and other important programme information for the 2023 campaign.
The development and roll out of the AIR continues. For general practice PMS users there will be no change. Continue to use your PMS to enter influenza vaccines and CIR to enter COVID-19 vaccines. More information from the AIR website can be found on this AIR flyer (PDF).
Practices will be notified by CIR, NIR and AIR when an enrolled consumer is vaccinated elsewhere. It's acknowledge there have been issues in the past when these notifications have been delayed and practices were inadvertently recalling patients who had already been immunised. Timely advertising and recalls of your eligible patients at the beginning of the influenza campaign is recommended if resources allow.
Offering both the flu and Zostavax (shingles) vaccines, a Hamilton initiative is reaching a high risk, vulnerable population who may otherwise have been missed.
Read moreTe Whatu Ora has notified that all vaccines on the National Immunisation Schedule and the influenza vaccine administered to all children aged 12 years and under, and the MMR vaccine administered to all those eligible for funded MMR, will have an increase in the Immunisation Administration Fee from 20 February to 30 June 2023.
Read moreThe B4 School Check (B4SC) is a universal, comprehensive check for all four-year-old’s that includes height and weight, vision and hearing, immunisations, oral health, and behavioral and developmental components.
View detailsThe Aotearoa Immunisation Register (AIR) is replacing the aging National Immunisation Register (NIR).