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About the role

Authorised vaccinators are registered health professionals who have completed vaccinator foundation training, a workbook, and a clinical assessment, and are authorised to administer vaccinations. They can administer vaccines listed on the NZ Immunisation Schedule and any other vaccines that are part of an approved immunisation programme to all eligible groups, according to the conditions of their vaccinator authorisation.  

Authorisations are valid for two years. Update training and authorisation renewal needs to be completed every two years. 

A health professional upskilling to be an authorised vaccinator or transitioning to an authorised vaccinator (whole-of-life), needs to be supervised while gaining practical experience and completing their workbook.  

A supervisor is an experienced vaccinator who has relevant and recent vaccinating experience. 

For detail on vaccines and vaccinator requirements refer to the Immunisation Handbook.

Become an authorised vaccinator

People wishing to become authorised vaccinators need to complete training and apply to their local medical officer of health for authorisation.  

Refer to your region’s information, appendix four of the immunisation handbook or talk to your local immunisation coordinator. 

View the Immunisation Handbook

Renew my vaccinator authorisation

Vaccinator training and authorisation are valid for two years from your last training date and need to be renewed if you wish to continue vaccinating.

Refer to your region’s information, appendix four of the immunisation handbook or talk to your local immunisation coordinator. 

View the Immunisation Handbook

Transition to whole-of-life authorisation

The transition to whole-of-life authorisation training and authorisation pathway is designed to support your knowledge and skill development in childhood immunisation if you have not had recent experience vaccinating tamariki. It helps Aotearoa increase the number of childhood vaccinators able to contribute to increasing childhood immunisation rates, and helps the workforce be better prepared to respond to disease outbreaks.

 

The transition to whole-of-life training and authorisation pathway is available to: 

  • authorised vaccinators with conditions on their current authorisation restricting their independent practice with young age groups 
  • authorised vaccinators who have not had recent (last 24 months) experience vaccinating tamariki aged under 5 years of age 
  • pharmacist vaccinators who want to upskill in giving vaccines to tamariki aged under 5 years of age

Training programme

Training programme

To upskill to become an authorised vaccinator (whole-of-life) and administer childhood schedule vaccines independently, you need to: 

  • complete supervised practice to develop competence and confidence  
  • complete a workbook  
  • complete a clinical assessment with an approved assessor on a pēpē under 2 years of age 
  • ensure you have a valid CPR certificate 

 

Note that CPR training must meet the requirements in the Immunisation Handbook. 

View the Immunisation Handbook

Authorisation process

Authorisation process

It’s your responsibility to keep track of your authorisation expiry date.

Vaccinator authorisation process – Authorised vaccinator transitioning to whole-of-life

Vaccinator authorisation process – Authorised vaccinator transitioning to whole-of-life Vaccinator authorisation process – Authorised vaccinator transitioning to whole-of-life Vaccinator authorisation process – Authorised vaccinator transitioning to whole-of-life

Authorisation step-by-step process

  1. complete the Extending Vaccinator Skills (whole-of-life) course, have a current APC and CPR training certificate  
  2. apply and upload the required documents (listed below) to the Workforce Requests Portal for approval. Required documents:
    • your current authorisation letter
    • Extending Vaccinator Skills (whole-of-life) course certificate
    • CPR training certificate
  3. receive vaccinator authorisation. This authorises you to complete supervised practice and clinical assessment without the need for a standing order or prescription, meaning you can administer vaccines to:
    • people 5 years of age and over, unsupervised  
    • tamariki under 5 years of age, supervised 
  4. complete and submit the workbook sign off sheet to the Workforce Requests Portal
  5. receive your updated vaccinator authorisation. This authorises you to administer vaccines to:
    • people 2 years of age and over, unsupervised
    • pēpē under 2 years of age, supervised 
  6. complete and submit a clinical assessment, with an approved assessor, on a pēpē under 2 years of age to the Workforce Requests Portal
  7. receive vaccinator authorisation with supervision conditions removed. This means you can administer vaccines, unsupervised, to people 6 weeks of age and over (whole-of-life) 

                    By working sequentially through these steps, you can gradually increase the scope of your authorisation as you gain confidence and competence.  

                    Note: you can choose to submit your workbook and clinical assessment (steps 4 and 6) at the same time. 

                    View the Workforce Requests Portal 

                    Read the Workforce Requests Portal user guide

                    View the ‘How to use the Workforce Requests Portal’ video from the Additional resources section below. 

                    Become a BCG authorised vaccinator

                    Only authorised vaccinators can apply to become BCG vaccinators via a BCG endorsement.

                     

                    If you are looking for information on tuberculosis legislation and the BCG vaccine view the information on BCG vaccine and vaccinator endorsement.

                    Training programme

                    Training programme

                    If you are an authorised vaccinator wishing to upskill to be authorised to administer BCG vaccines, you need to have been nominated by your employer. Then you need to: 

                    • have a valid CPR certificate 
                    • have completed a minimum of five BCG vaccinations under clinical supervision  
                    • have been assessed as competent by a currently approved BCG clinical assessor. 

                    For information on the approval process for BCG assessors see the Clinical assessor section.

                    Authorisation process

                    Authorisation process

                    It’s your responsibility to keep track of your authorisation expiry date.  

                    To be endorsed as a new BCG vaccinator you need to apply to your local Medical Officer of Health. Refer to your region’s webpages to find more information.

                    Renew my BCG authorisation

                    Training programme

                    Training programme

                    To renew your BCG training you need to: 

                    • have a valid CPR certificate.

                    Authorisation process

                    Authorisation process

                    It’s your responsibility to keep track of your authorisation expiry date.  

                    To update your endorsement as a BCG vaccinator you need to apply to your local Medical Officer of Health. Refer to your region’s webpages to find more information. At a minimum you’ll need to provide evidence of: 

                    1. your current vaccinator authorisation  
                    2. BCG Endorsed Vaccinator Update course certificate

                      You must notify your local MOoH if you are ceasing practice or are no longer practicing in the region. If you are wanting to practice in another region you must get approval from the relevant MOoH in your new region, providing evidence of your current vaccinator authorisation and BCG endorsement and details of your proposed mahi (work) within the region.