To increase access and boost immunisation rates, Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora and Whānau Āwhina Plunket will pilot the delivery of childhood immunisations at a select number of sites across the country.

The new pilot programme, funded to run until June 2026, was announced by Health Minister, Dr Shane Reti and Associate Health Minister, Casey Costello today.

Whānau Āwhina Plunket is a charity and Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest support service for the health and wellbeing of tamariki under five years old and their whānau.

The service supports 75 per cent of newborn babies, including nearly 60 per cent of Māori pēpi.

"This is an exciting but natural next step for us to train our specialist nurses and healthcare workers to begin offering childhood immunisations, alongside our existing services,” Plunket Chief Executive Fiona Kingsford says.

Health NZ’s National Public Health Service National Director, Dr Nick Chamberlain says it’s critical that childhood immunisation rates improve, and we hope this pilot will help.

“The Immunisation Taskforce Report recommended expanding the vaccinator workforce, which includes enabling all Well Child Tamariki Ora providers to deliver childhood immunisations. Involving Whānau Āwhina Plunket in this approach will further support reaching our immunisation goals, given their engagements with whānau across the motu.”

Whānau Āwhina Plunket will trial offering immunisation alongside in-clinic Well Child visits, at dedicated immunisation clinics and community events, and eventually at home.

“We’re committed to making it easier for whānau to get their tamariki vaccinated on time, to engage with whānau who are not enrolled in primary care, and in areas where there are low immunisation rates. It is also an opportunity to encourage whānau and tamariki to enrol in a General Practice," Mrs Kingsford says.

“This pilot is about providing additional access opportunities, not just at clinics but also at home - general practice will continue to remain the mainstay of immunisation and will be accountable for their enrolled populations, however as with other initiatives this is aimed to support general practice where families are finding it difficult to access immunisation.” Dr Chamberlain says.

“Our hope is that in time this will help to ease pressure on not just primary care but the broader health system and ultimately, lift immunisation rates where it’s needed most."

The first site will be in Whangārei and is expected to start administering childhood immunisations by the end of 2024. The next sites will be established and operational in Kaikohe, Hamilton, Taumarunui, and Whanganui by March 2025. These have been identified as areas of need based on immunisation rates and current access, combined with areas where Plunket has the established services.” Dr Chamberlain says.

Additional sites will be worked out as the pilot gets underway.