Pharmacist and Intern Pharmacist
The different options available for pharmacists and intern pharmacists to become vaccinators.
Pātiki and Waharua Kōpito patterns
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About the role
Pharmacists and intern pharmacists can vaccinate under the Medicines Regulations when they have completed vaccinator training and a clinical assessment. A pharmacist and intern pharmacist vaccinator’s scope is based on a specific vaccines medicine classification.
A pharmacist or intern pharmacist can choose to become an authorised vaccinator. Meaning medicine classification age restrictions no longer apply. Vaccinator authorisation includes authorisation to administer all National Immunisation Schedule vaccines to age groups included in the authorisation.
For more information on offering a childhood vaccination service in a pharmacy view Immunisation Services.
A pharmacist or intern pharmacist upskilling to be a pharmacist vaccinator or authorised vaccinator, 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 pharmacist vaccinators or intern vaccinators on the whole-of-life vaccinator authorisation pathway, the supervisor needs to have at least six months experience vaccinating infants.
For detail on vaccines and vaccinator requirements refer to the Immunisation Handbook.
Become a pharmacist vaccinator
Training programme
Training programme
Pharmacists wishing to upskill to administer vaccinations need to:
- complete the Vaccinator Foundation course
- complete the workbook
- complete supervised practice to develop competence and confidence
- pass a clinical assessment with an approved assessor
- ensure you have a valid CPR certificate
Note that CPR training must meet the requirements in the Immunisation Handbook.
View the Immunisation Handbook
A Vaccinator Update (whole-of-life) course must be completed every two years to continue vaccinating.
Pharmacist Vaccinators do not need to apply for authorisation to be able to administer vaccinations (as specified in the medicine classification statements, Schedule 1 of the Medicines Regulations 1984) however we recommend you inform the Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand. You must also maintain the following documentation and evidence that demonstrates you meet the Immunisation Standard for Vaccinators, as outlined in the Immunisation Handbook.
- clinical assessment
- current APC
- valid and relevant CPR Certification
- all training courses, including biennial (every two years) Vaccinator Update course
Become an authorised vaccinator
A pharmacist or intern pharmacist can choose to become an authorised vaccinator. The training programme is the same as that for a pharmacist 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.
Transition to whole-of-life authorisation
If you are a pharmacist vaccinator or intern pharmacist (with or without authorisation) you can expand you scope to become an authorised vaccinator (whole-of-life).
For more information on offering a childhood vaccination service in a pharmacy view Immunisation Services.
Training programme
Training programme
If you want to upskill and transition to be an authorised vaccinator (whole-of-life) you need to:
- complete the free Extending Vaccinator Skills (whole-of-life) course
- complete supervised practice to develop competence and confidence
- complete a workbook
- complete a clinical assessment with an approved assessor, on a pēpē under two years of age
- ensure you have a valid CPR certificate
Note that CPR training must meet the requirements in 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
Authorisation process step-by-step process
Authorisation process step-by-step process
- complete the Extending Vaccinator Skills (whole-of-life) course, have a current APC and CPR training certificate
- apply and upload the required documents (listed below) to the Workforce Requests Portal. Required documents:
- your most recent Vaccinator Foundation Course or Vaccinator Update Course certificate
- original clinical assessment
- Extending Vaccinator Skills (whole-of-life) Course certificate
- CPR training certificate
- APC
- 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
- complete and submit the workbook sign off sheet to the Workforce Requests Portal
- 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
- complete and submit a clinical assessment, with an approved assessor, on a pēpē under 2 years of age to the Workforce Requests Portal
- 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
View the Workforce Requests Portal user guide
View the ‘How to use the Workforce Requests Portal’ video from the Additional resources section below.
Renew my pharmacist vaccinator status
All vaccinator training and authorisations are valid for two years from your last training date and need to be renewed if you wish to continue vaccinating. It’s your responsibility to keep track of your authorisation expiry date.
Training programme
Training programme
To update your vaccinator skills and knowledge you need to:
- complete a Vaccinator update course (either the Vaccinator Update (whole-of-life) course or a Vaccinator update (in-person) course)
- ensure you have a current CPR training certificate
Note that CPR training must meet the requirements in the Immunisation Handbook.
If you are a pharmacist vaccinator who is not authorised you don’t need to renew an authorisation.
You do need to meet training requirements outlined above, and we recommend you inform the Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand. You must also maintain documentation and evidence that demonstrates you meet the Immunisation Standard for Vaccinators, as outlined in the Immunisation Handbook.
- clinical assessment
- current APC
- valid and relevant CPR certification
- all training courses, including biennial (every two years) Vaccinator Update (whole-of-life) course
Renew my vaccinator authorisation
All vaccinator training and authorisations are valid for two years from your last training date and need to be renewed if you wish to continue vaccinating. It’s your responsibility to keep track of your authorisation expiry date.
Refer to your region’s information, appendix four of the immunisation handbook or talk to your local immunisation coordinator.