9 June 2023 Immunisation Update
Kia ora koutouWe 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 health sector 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
Book My Vaccine website now provides MMR and Boostrix appointment s
To provide greater access for vaccinations, appointments for MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) and Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough) vaccines are now available to consumers age 13 and over using Book My Vaccine.
Providers who deliver these vaccinations are encouraged to use Book My Vaccine to offer appointments. So far, 142 sites across 20 districts have onboarded MMR/Boostrix on Book My Vaccine.
The additional vaccine types can be added into existing schedules by providers logging into their Book My Vaccine admin system and using the easy how-to guide BMV – How to manage vaccine supplies
A video showing how to add vaccine supplies is also available.
For any other help, 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.
A news item has been published on the Te Whatu Ora website and later this month, and as more providers come onboard, we will update the Book My Vaccine homepage and increase promotion to consumers.
If you have any suggestions for resources/collateral that could support you to promote your appointments on Book My Vaccine, please let us know.
Pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine for people aged 45 and 65 year s
A direct communications campaign for eligible people aged 65 years and over is in progress, reaching almost 300,000 people via email.
An objective of the communication drive is to clarify that people can still receive the funded boostrix vaccine from the age of 65. Those aged 65 and over will receive an email about vaccine. Those who have been recorded as having a booster in the past 5 years will not receive an email.
People in their 65th year (and up to age 65 years and 49 weeks) will receive an email about both shingles (Shingrix) and the whooping cough (Boostrix) vaccine.
We are pleased to see a good response from consumers so far, with the call to action to ‘Contact your doctor or healthcare provider to book a time to get vaccinated or to check when you’re next due to get a booster, or for more information to visit Immunise website or call Healthline on 0800 611 116.’
A reminder:
• The whooping cough vaccine (TDaP - Boostrix) also protects against tetanus and diphtheria - if someone has had a tetanus booster recently, they may already be protected against whooping cough.
• In 2019 Pharmac changed the eligibility for people who are eligible for a funded dose of Boostrix from age 45 and 65.
• If people miss getting their booster at age 45 or 65, they can still catch up for free, although this may not be recommended by their health professional if they have already had a recent dose.
Vaccinators can refer to the Immunisation Handbook section 20.5.3 for guidance and call the IMAC 0800 line for further advice if required.
Public-facing key messages plus additional Q&As are available on Dropbox. Aotearoa Immunisation Week
A massive thank you to everyone within the Districts, Providers, Primary Care and Community Health services across the motu who supported Aotearoa Immunisation Week from 29 May to 4 June.
In total, there were 2,709 immunisation activities across the week, which include standing clinics with availability through Book My Vaccine, outreach services, promoted practices and community immunisation locations. Additionally, across the motu there were 168 amplified events, providing access and visibility to the importance and ease of getting immunised across our communities.
V ideo resources
A series of videos were posted on Te Whatu Ora social media channels throughout the week, highlighting some of the vaccination opportunities available. We’d like to give a special shout out to the providers who accommodated this filming amongst an already busy day!
You are welcome to use any of the videos for your own social media channels, which are available on Dropbox
Sector stakeholder hu i
Thank you to everyone who joined our hui this week. We had a fantastic presentation from the Bay of Plenty team, who shared their approach for Aotearoa Immunisation Week. Additionally, the National Immunisation Programme shared updates about the Aotearoa Immunisation Register (AIR), Book My Vaccine, in addition to operations and communications.
You can find Stakeholder sector hui resources, including slides, video links and a recording of the hui, here: Dropbox – Stakeholder hui 7 June 2023
Our regular reminders on collateral
Overview of collateral available in Dropbox and Bluestar
We have created a summary document to give you an overview of the kinds of collateral and resources available on Dropbox and Bluestar. The summary document is available here: Dropbox/Bluestar collateral summary.
Dropbox downloadable col lateral
Don’t forget all our immunisation collateral is available on Dropbox for health care providers to use when promoting vaccinations. Please feel free to share this link and the collateral widely with your other healthcare colleagues: Dropbox – National Immunisation Programme – vaccine resources.
Collateral in Bluestar
Printed copies of some resources can be ordered for free via the Bluestar portal
If you’re not already registered, you can register on the Bluestar portal. Below the login details, select ‘Need to Register? ’. Complete the online registration form, include your clinic/practice/pharmacy name and your contact details. You will receive an email confirming your registration. Remember to click the button in the email to 'Activate' your registration.
Collateral in HealthEd
Immunisations resources are also available from HealthEd.
Where can I get more information?
We're here to help! If there is anything we can do to help with your vaccination promotion activity, or if you need any comms assistance please reach out to the team:
Health sector Comms and Engagement
Sandy.thambiah@health.govt.nz
Māori Comms and Engagement
Eddie.Sykes@health.govt.nz or Katene.Durie-Doherty@health.govt.nz
Pacific Comms and Engagement
Yvonne.timaloa@health.govt.nz
Media issues
hnzmedia@health.govt.nz
Any other queries
Dana.kirkpatrick@health.govt.nz
Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand
����133 Molesworth Street, Thorndon
✉ immunisation@health.govt.nz
ℹ tewhatuora.govt.nz