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 up to 4 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 Region [232KB PDF] – Revised November 2017.
Successful authorisations last for two years, and then you must apply for a renewal to continue to vaccinate.
Forms for Authorised Vaccinators
Complete the relevant documentation available below to apply.
Please scan and email with supporting documentation to vaccinator[at]cdhb.health.nz.
- Application for Initial Approval as an Authorised Vaccinator (255KB) – Revised April 2019.
- Application for Renewal as an Authorised Vaccinator (255KB) – Revised April 2019. Formerly: Application for Further Approval as an Authorised Vaccinator.
- Peer Review of Clinical Practice for Authorised Vaccinators Form (316KB PDF) – needed for renewal. Revised November 2017.
- Application for Approval of an Immunisation Programme (417KB) – Revised April 2019.
Contact the Christchurch CPH office for more information on Authorised Vaccinators:
Sophie Elley
Ph: +64 3 364 1777
Fax: +64 3 379 6484
Applying to Become a Yellow Fever Vaccinator
In July 2017, the Ministry of Health reviewed the updated yellow fever vaccinator policy established in 2010. 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 (266KB) – Updated August 2017.
Approval to be either a vaccinator or a vaccinating centre will not be transferable and is valid for:
- only one year for a centre; and
- three years for a vaccinator.
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 or the practitioner to seek re-approval.
Forms for Yellow Fever Vaccinators
Complete the relevant documentation available below to apply.
Please scan and email with supporting documentation to joanne.webster[at]cdhb.health.nz.
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.
- Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre Approval Form (120KB) – updated August 2017.
- Yellow Fever Vaccinator Approval Form (136KB) – 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
- Policy for the Authorisation of Yellow Fever Vaccinators and Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres (Ministry of Health 2017)
- National Standards for Vaccine Storage and Transportation for Immunisation Providers 2017 (Ministry of Health)
