1 June 2023 Immunisation Update
Kia ora koutouHappy first day of winter! We are pleased to share with you this week's update from the National Immunisation Programme. We encourage you to share this pānui and our resources with your contacts and networks as relevant- thank you so much.
If you need key messages, or any other comms or engagement support, please email me: sandy.thambiah@health.govt.nz
Aotearoa Immunisation Week
We acknowledge our vaccination providers for your collective effort and support as you continue to help protect our most vulnerable across the motu.
This week there have been over a thousand immunisation opportunities where people have been taking advantage of extended hours at nearby clinics, pharmacies, GPs and hauora providers. This is in addition to outreach services to rural communities as well as pop-up clinics at farmers markets and rugby games. Thank you.
Yesterday we shared this video from River Ridge Birthing Unit in Hamilton on Facebook. There’s also a short promotion of the week and more to be uploaded over the coming days.
You can access and share these videos with your communities: Aotearoa Immunisation Week –video for social media
You can also hear more about the week at the upcoming stakeholder hui on Wednesday 7 June (details below).
Invitation reminder: National Immunisati on Programme - stakeholder hui
Please note the following details in your calendar for the next hui.
National Immunisation Programme - stakeholder hui
Date: Wednesday 7 June 2023
Time: 1.30 to 2.30pm
Link: Click here to join the Teams meeting
One million flu doses administered during nationwide immunisation push
Today, the 1 millionth flu dose was administered, and more than 1.4 million doses of the vaccine have been distributed to meet the demand in Aotearoa New Zealand. we have reached the one-millionth dose earlier than we did in 2022 and that is a testament to the collective effort across the sector.
A news item has been published on Te Whatu Ora website.
Childhood immunisation quarterly data released
This week the following data were published on the Ministry of Health website: National and regional immunisation data | Ministry of Health NZ
Childhood Immuni sation Tier 1 Data for the most recent quarter (Q3, 1 January 2023 – 31 March 2023).
National and DHB immunisation data | Ministry of Health NZ:
HPV Immunisation coverage to 31 March 2023 for the 2009 birth cohort. HPV immunisation programme | Ministry of Health NZ
The latest quarterly childhood immunisation data shows some positive signs of improvement with 2.5 percentage point increase for tamariki Māori at the 24-month milestone age. At the five-year milestone ages for Pacific children there has been a 3.3 percentage point compared to the previous quarter.
Action : Please find the key messages in our Dropbox which you can use and share with your networks.
Latest national childhood immunisation rates published – Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand
Māori flu and COVID update
In collaboration with Te Aka Whai Ora, we have created a Māori-focused campaign for flu, and COVID-19 vaccines. The campaign was created with direction from hauora Māori partners as to what they would want to see in a national Māori flu, and COVID-19 campaign as we head in to winter.
Each campaign sits separately under the umbrella concept of “We On!”. “We On!” empowers whānau as individuals to make a choice - putting the mana motuhake back in the individuals’ hands around immunisation decisions. It also brings a level of positivity around immunisation,
especially to COVID-19 which has not been felt in a long time. We’ve used a strength-based approach in our call to action “whānau strong, all winter long”.
Two TV commercials (one flu focused, and one COVID-19 focused) are currently playing across TVNZ, Discovery, Sky Sports, Whakaata Māori, as well as on-demand services e.g. TVNZ+ and Three Now. Radio advertising will be going live this week across Māori Media Network (in te reo Māori and English), Mai and Flava, as well as digital advertising across Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Advertisements will also go live this week across dairies, retail stores, petrol stations and shopping malls throughout the motu. This will run until 30 June.
Resources – please fee l free to utilise and share with your networks
• TV campaign (TVCs) for flu and COVID-19: the videos are available here.
• Dropbox links to the social media tiles and posters
• Editable templates have been created through Canva so that you can easily localise communications of immunisation events/clinics. Templates available here: Flu with Photo Flu Text only Covid with Photo Covid Text only Immunisation Clinic/Event/Pop-Up Covid A4 Poster Flu A4 Poster
• An easy guide on how to use the Canva templates is available here.
Ph armacies to be provided access to additional vaccines
The National Immunisation Programme welcomes Pharmac’s decision to provide pharmacies with access to the following funded vaccines from 1 June 2023:
• Bexsero (Meningococcal B vaccine)
• MenQuadfi (Meningococcal ACYW vaccine)
• Gardasil (Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine)
• Shingrix (Varicella zoster [Shingles vaccine])
Te Whatu Ora will be in touch in the coming weeks with further detail on implementation timelines and support for pharmacies and other providers that wish to administer these additional national immunisation schedule vaccines to their community.
These changes will increase accessibility to vaccines and provide eligible whānau more choice for immunisation services in the community.
If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at immunisation@health.govt.nz
MMR update
MMR and TDAP added to Book My Vaccine
Adult MMR and Tdap (Boostrix) appointments will be available to consumers using Book My Vaccine (BMV) from mid-June to support greater vaccination uptake for adults and pregnant people.
Providers who deliver these vaccinations are encouraged to use BMV to offer appointments to consumers.
Providers who currently use BMV can log into the BMV admin system and add these vaccine types to their existing appointment schedules. Providers are encouraged to follow this easy how-to-guide: BMV – How to manage vaccine supplies and watch this video showing how to add vaccine supplies.
Providers can email help@imms.min.health.nz or call the team on 0800 223 987 to find out more. Drop-in support is available via Teams from 1pm to 1.45pm each weekday.
If you are a vaccine provider and would like to start using Book My Vaccine, please complete a new site and user set up form, select the vaccines that you would like to offer and return to help@imms.min.health.nz.
Operations Guidelines update
The COVID-19: Vaccine operating and planning guidelines V55 has been updated and can be found here: COVID-19: Vaccine operating and planning guidelines | Ministry of Health NZ
