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.
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 [405KB PDF] – Revised November 2020.
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 [174KB PDF] – Revised December 2020.
- Application for Renewal as an Authorised Vaccinator [181KB PDF] – Revised December 2020.
- Peer Review of Clinical Practice for Authorised Vaccinators Form [236KB PDF] – needed for renewal. Revised December 2020.
- Application for Approval of an Immunisation Programme [335KB] – Revised December 2020.
Contact the Christchurch CPH office for more information on Authorised Vaccinators:
Sophie Elley 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
- 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
- Latest COVID-19 definition and testing guidance from the Ministry of Health
- Latest public health protocols
- Getting Through Together
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
- Cantabrians urged to protect themselves against Legionnaires’ disease
- Information on measles (Ministry of Health)