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Disclaimer

This publication, which has been prepared for, and is published by, Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora, is for the assistance of those involved in providing immunisation services in New Zealand.

While the information and advice included in this publication are believed to be correct, no liability is accepted for any incorrect statement or advice. No person proposing to administer a vaccine to any other person should rely on the advice given in this publication without first exercising his or her professional judgement as to the appropriateness of administering that vaccine to another person.

The Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora website hosts the most current version of the Immunisation Handbook. Check the website for the updates that will occur as and when required.

Contents

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Download: Immunisation Handbook 2024 version 3 PDF download - PDF, 7.2 MB

This is version 3 of the Immunisation Handbook 2024, released 1 July 2024.

Summary of changes

 

Summary of changes from previous Immunisation Handbook version (2024 version 2).

See summary of changes

See summary of changes
Section detail Change
Major changes
  • Updating “Immunisation Handbook 2024 Version 2” to “Immunisation Handbook Version 3” 
  • Reorganised layout to put anaphylaxis management, funded vaccines for special groups and National immunisation Schedule card at front of Handbook. 
  • Impact of adding a new chapter – chapter numbers moved over, and all hyperlinks required updating. 
    Chapter 4
    Immunisation of special groups
    • Reorganised 'infants born to mothers who received immunomodulatory agents during pregnancy' and 'immune checkpoint inhibitor' sections. 
    • Updated relevant sections with XBB.1.5 COVID-19 vaccines for paediatrics. 
    Chapter 5
    COVID-19
    • Update of clinical features and efficacy
    • Added in XBB.1.5 paediatric vaccines
    • Reorganised chapter order to be more relevant to current recommendations (i.e additional doses nearer top of recommended schedule section). 
    • Edited tables 
    Chapter 9
    Hepatitis B
    • Non-responder protocol – changed repeated vaccinations, after failing to respond to a second IM course, to up to two single HepB doses given intradermally (evidence of better chance of immune response)
    Chapter 13 & Appendix 2
    Meningococcal disease
    • Removed wording around flexibility of catch up for those who turned 5 years old after 1 March 2023. This group have had 14 months to catch up
    Chapter 18
    RSV
    • New chapter
    • Providing information about the unfunded vaccines