Key Messages
COVID-19 booster eligibility expansion
Approved as of 22 March 2023
Key top-line messages
• An additional COVID-19 booster dose is now available for:
o anyone aged 30 and over who has completed a primary course, as long as it’s been at least 6 months since your last COVID-19 vaccine or positive COVID-19 test.
o anyone at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19 who has completed a primary course, as long as it’s been at least 6 months since your last COVID-19 booster or positive COVID-19 test. High-risk groups include:
▪ people aged 65 years and over
▪ Māori and Pacific peoples aged 50 years and over
▪ residents of aged care and disability care facilities
▪ severely immunocompromised people
▪ people aged 16 years and over who have a medical condition that increases the risk of severe breakthrough COVID-19 illness
▪ people aged 16 years and over who live with disability with significant or complex health needs or multiple comorbidities.
• Staying up to date with the recommended COVID-19 vaccinations will continue to protect you from the risk of serious illness, hospitalisation or death from COVID-19.
• You can book your COVID-19 vaccine or booster at www.BookMyVaccine.nz or by calling the COVID Vaccination Healthline on 0800 28 29 26 (8am to 8pm, 7 days a week).
Supporting messages
• The bivalent vaccine has replaced the existing Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for boosters. The vaccines used for the primary vaccination course will continue to be the original Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine or the Novavax vaccine.
• The bivalent vaccine causes the immune system to create antibodies against both the original variant of SARS-CoV-2 and Omicron subvariants and is therefore likely to provide better protection.
• The bivalent vaccine is recommended for eligible pregnant people at any stage of pregnancy or during breastfeeding, as long as it has been at least 6 months since their last COVID-19 vaccine or positive COVID-19 test.
• Flu vaccinations are also available from 1 April. We encourage everyone who is eligible, to get both their COVID-19 booster and flu vaccination to ensure that they are well protected ahead of winter.
Additional messages specifically for the health sector
• Pregnant people who are under the age of 30 who don’t qualify for the COVID-19 vaccine through the high-risk category can only receive an additional booster via a prescription i.e. an authorised prescriber may consider offering Comirnaty to a pregnant woman aged between 16 to 29 years of age more than six months after their previous dose or a COVID-19 infection, after an informed decision-making discussion with the consumer on their health needs, and the risks (e.g., risk of myocarditis or pericarditis) and benefits of an additional dose. A written consent, and authorised prescriber prescription is required.
• Healthcare, aged care and disability workers who are aged 16-29 are not eligible to receive an additional booster unless via a prescription.
• Those who wish to have the original Pfizer vaccine (if over 16) or Novavax vaccine (if over 18) as their first or second booster shot can choose to do so when presenting for their vaccination