7.4: Vaccinators
7.4: Authorised vaccinators
Authorised vaccinators are health professionals who can legally administer vaccines that are part of an approved immunisation programme without a prescription or standing order.
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Practice team members responsible for performing immunisations on the National Schedule hold current vaccination authorisation. |
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Authorised vaccinators
Authorised vaccinators are registered health professionals who can administer vaccines listed on the NZ Immunisation Schedule and any other vaccines that are part of an approved immunisation programme to all eligible groups, according to the conditions of their vaccinator authorisation.
Vaccinating Health Workers are unregulated and administer vaccines under the supervision of a registered health professional vaccinator (supervisor). The vaccines VHWs can administer depend on their stage of authorisation.
Updates
December 2025: Administering Adrenaline for Authorised Vaccinators
Following an amendment to the Medicines Regulations (Regulation 44A), effective 19 December 2025, adrenaline and liquid paracetamol have been added to the national schedule.
Adrenaline 1:1000 is now approved for inclusion in all authorised immunisation programmes, meaning authorised vaccinators may administer adrenaline for the management of post‑vaccination anaphylaxis, in line with programme requirements and current best practice.
November 2025: Changes to Authorised Vaccinator Training and Authorisation
Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is streamlining the training and authorisation pathway for Authorised Vaccinators into a single national system.
What’s changing
- Default conditions of authorisation (such as age ranges vaccinators are permitted to vaccinate) will now be consistent nationwide.
- Authorisations will apply nationally, meaning vaccinators will not need to reapply when moving between districts.
- All applications for authorisation will be made through the Workforce Requests Portal is replacing local district processes.
- For those working towards full vaccinator authorisation, who hold national authorisation with supervision conditions, a new “no standing order under supervision” model is being introduced.
- This model will be rolled out region by region, so whether it applies depends on your location. Practices should check their regional requirements to confirm which process applies.
Rollout timeline
- 5 November 2025: Northern and South Island regions
- Early 2026: Midlands and Central regions
NB: Until each region transitions, local authorisation processes remain in place, and standing orders/prescriptions are still required during the supervised phase.