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 health professionals who can legally administer vaccines that are part of an approved immunisation programme without a prescription or standing order.
Authorised vaccinators can only independently administer vaccines that are part of an approved immunisation programme. These can either be national immunisation programmes approved by the Ministry of Health, such as the National Immunisation Schedule, or local immunisation programmes approved by the local Medical Officer of Health for a specific region.
Although it is preferable that all vaccinators become authorised, there will be circumstances when standing orders are needed for team members working towards vaccine authorisation. These may include new team members, locums, and agency nurses.
Health New Zealand update Oct 2025: Adrenaline administration by vaccinators
Health New Zealand has clarified that authorised vaccinators administering adrenaline for post-vaccination anaphylaxis must now do so under either a prescription or a standing order. The full communication and related FAQs are available on the Prevention-Immunisation Dropbox which can be accessed here.
What’s changed?
Previously, it was assumed that vaccinator authorisation under the Medicines Regulations 1984 implicitly included the authority to administer adrenaline in such situations. This update confirms that this assumption was not correct.
Importantly, this change stipulates that standing orders are required for vaccinators to legally administer adrenaline. There has been no change to the Medicines Regulations themselves and there is no expectation that past administrations of adrenaline by authorised vaccinators will be retroactively reviewed.
If you have any further questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact immunisation@tewhatuora.govt.nz
Please note: Nurse prescribers and nurse practitioners are exempt from this requirement.