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 by email on the documentation provided below.
Please allow up to four weeks for your application to be processed if all required documentation is supplied.
Additional vaccinators needed for the COVID-19 vaccine rollout
The Ministry of Health is currently seeking additional vaccinators to support the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. An extra 2,000 to 3,000 full-time (or equivalent) vaccinators to be trained and available when needed throughout New Zealand.
Register your interest to volunteer on the COVID-19 Hands Up Workforce Database if you want to become a COVID-19 vaccinator or part of the wider COVID-19 vaccination team. You can also email covid-19vaccine[at]health.govt.nz.
People with skills such as clinical, administration or customer service who have a great attitude and regular hours to offer are encouraged to register on Hands Up.
Retired and overseas-trained health professionals and the wider health workforce can now join New Zealand’s expanding vaccinator workforce – as of Friday 2nd July 2021.
The Government has changed Medicines Regulations to allow more health workers to be trained to give vaccinations – to lend a hand as we move to the next phase the biggest vaccination campaign in New Zealand’s history.
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 such as 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.
- Get information on the application and renewal process for an Authorised Vaccinator in the Canterbury, South Canterbury and West Coast Regions [359KB PDF] – Revised April 2021.
Successful authorisations last for two years, and you must apply for a renewal to continue to vaccinate.
Forms for Authorised Vaccinators
Complete the relevant documentation available below to apply.
Email your application with supporting documents attached to vaccinator[at]cdhb.health.nz. This is a critical step in the processing of your application.
- Application for Initial Approval as an Authorised Vaccinator [193KB PDF] – Revised April 2021.
- Application for Renewal as an Authorised Vaccinator [196KB PDF] – Revised April 2021.
- Peer Review of Clinical Practice for Authorised Vaccinators [282KB PDF] – Revised April 2021. This document is needed for some renewal applications.
- Application for Approval of an Immunisation Programme [326KB] – Revised April 2021.
Contact the Christchurch CPH office for more information on Authorised Vaccinators:
Sophie Rose or Judi Whittington
Ph: +64 3 364 1777
Fax: +64 3 379 6484
Applying to Become a Yellow Fever Vaccinator
The Ministry of Health reviewed the yellow fever vaccinator policy in July 2017. 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.
Approval to provide yellow fever vaccination is restricted to individual medical practitioners under the policy, 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 [266KB PDF] – Updated August 2017.
Approval to be either a vaccinator or a vaccinating centre is not be transferable and is valid for:
- only one year for a centre; and
- three years for a vaccinator.
Any centre or practitioner wanting to continue prescribing the yellow fever vaccine must apply to the Medical Officer of Health for renewal of approval. It is the responsibility of the centre or the practitioner to seek re-approval.
Forms for Yellow Fever Vaccinators
Complete the relevant documentation available below to apply.
Scan and email your application with supporting documents attached to joanne.webster[at]cdhb.health.nz. This is a critical step in the processing of your application.
Reviewed forms will 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.
- Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre Approval Form [120KB PDF] – updated August 2017.
- Yellow Fever Vaccinator Approval Form [136KB PDF] – updated August 2017.
Contact the Christchurch CPH office for more information on Yellow Fever Vaccinators:
Joanne Webster
Ph: +64 3 364 1777
Fax: +64 3 379 6484
Documents
- Addendum to National Standards for Vaccine Storage and Transportation Providers 2017: 2nd edition (Ministry of Health 2021).
- National Standards for Vaccine Storage and Transportation for Immunisation Providers: Second edition (Ministry of Health 2019).
- Policy for the Authorisation of Yellow Fever Vaccinators and Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres (Ministry of Health 2017).
Links
Latest public health updates
- Restart of respiratory reports
- COVID-19 serology testing for travellers
- Getting Through Together Matariki campaign
Latest public health alerts
- COVID-19 in “managed isolation and quarantine facility” staff - 5th November 2020
- National Health Advisory: COVID-19 Case Definitions Update - 6th April 2020
- National Health Advisory: Prioritisation of the Annual Flu Vaccination - 23rd March 2020
Featured links
- Information on COVID-19 from the Ministry of Health
- Information on RSV (Ministry of Health)
- COVID vaccination programme in Canterbury, West Coast and Chatham Islands