Become a Vaccinator to help keep our community healthy
Medical Officers of Health are responsible for approving authorised vaccinator applications (Regulation 44A of the Medicines Regulation 1984). They also recommend local Yellow Fever Vaccinator and Vaccination Centre applications to the Ministry of Health.
This page gives information about the process of applying to become either an authorised or yellow fever vaccinator, including the necessary forms.
Your application must be submitted on the documentation provided below.
Please allow 4 weeks for your application to be processed if all required documentation is supplied.
Find out about vaccinator education and training courses (Immunisation Advisory Centre).
Becoming an Authorised Vaccinator
Authorised vaccinators are able to administer vaccines without a prescription or standing order from a medical professional. Only vaccines that are part of an approved immunisation programme can be given (e.g. the Ministry of Health’s national immunisation programmes, or a local immunisation programme).
Only registered New Zealand nurses or midwifes are eligible to apply. The applicant needs to prove their resuscitation skills, knowledge and clinical skills.
Information on the application and renewal process for an Authorised Vaccinator in the Canterbury, South Canterbury and West Coast Region [213KB PDF].
Successful authorisations lasts for two years, and then you must apply for a renewal to continue to vaccinate.
Contact the Christchurch CPH office for more information on Authorised Vaccinators:
Sarah-Jayne Wilson
Ph: +64 3 378 6743
Fax: +64 3 379 6484
Complete the relevant documentation available below to apply. Please scan and email with supporting documentation to Sarah-Jayne Wilson.
- Application for Initial Approval as an Authorised Vaccinator (306KB) – updated February 2017
- Application for Further Approval as an Authorised Vaccinator (223KB) – updated February 2017
- Application for Approval of an Immunisation Programme (346KB) – updated February 2017
- Peer Review of Clinical Practice for Authorised Vaccinators Form needed for further approval [385KB PDF] – updated February 2017.
Applying to Become a Yellow Fever Vaccinator
In February 2010, the Ministry of Health reviewed the new yellow fever vaccinator policy established in 2004. This policy formalised and standardised the process of assessing applications for approval of yellow fever vaccinators and vaccinating centres, and for follow-up audit and review.
Under the policy, approval to provide yellow fever vaccination is restricted to individual medical practitioners, and the ability to order yellow fever vaccine is restricted to approved vaccinating centres. Approval for vaccinators and vaccinating centres is granted by the Director-General of Health upon the recommendation of a Medical Officer of Health from the local Public Health Unit.
Read the Ministry of Health’s Yellow Fever Vaccinators and Vaccination Centres Policy (February 2010).
Approval to be either a vaccinator or a vaccinating centre will not be transferable and is valid in the case of a centre only for a period of one year and in the case of a vaccinator for a period of three years.
Any centre or practitioner wishing to continue to prescribe yellow fever vaccine must individually apply to the Medical Officer of Health for renewal of approval. It is the responsibility of the centre to seek re-approval on an annual basis and of the doctor for a personal re-approval every three years.
Contact the Christchurch CPH office for more information on Yellow Fever Vaccinators:
Joanne Webster
Ph: +64 3 364 1777
Fax: +64 3 379 6484
Complete the relevant documentation available below to apply. Please scan and email with supporting documentation to Joanne Webster.
Your forms will then be forwarded to the Ministry of Health for their approval. The Ministry will notify the practitioner and the vaccine supplier once this process is completed.
- Initial Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre Approval Form (Ministry of Health)
- Initial Yellow Fever Vaccinator Approval Form (Ministry of Health)
- Renewal of Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre Approval Form (Ministry of Health)
- Renewal of Yellow Fever Vaccinator Approval Form (Ministry of Health)
Documents
- Policy for the Approval of Yellow Fever Vaccinators and Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres (Ministry of Health 2010)
- National Standards for Vaccine Storage and Transportation for Immunisation Providers 2017 (Ministry of Health)
