24 September 2021
To: DHB Chief Executives Tēnā koe
Important update to guidance on administration of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine This letter provides you with an update to guidance on the administration of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. The Ministry of Health (the Ministry) can now advise that the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine can be administered at the same time, before or after most other vaccines, with the exception of the Shingles Zostavax vaccine, which needs a gap of seven days. As you will understand, when delivering any new vaccine, we need to follow a cautious approach to determine if, on the rare occasion, there are any adverse side effects and which vaccine they relate to. As the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine has now been widely used in Aotearoa New Zealand and around the world, and its effects well documented and understood, we now know that there is no concern about administering this and most other vaccines at the same time or without any minimum gap between them. In particular, this will also enable opportunities to support vaccination for measles prior to the borders re-opening as the Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine could be offered to 15-29 year olds at the same time as the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in some settings. We are updating our website and printed collateral to align with this updated guidance. Please note that COVID-19 vaccines still need to be recorded in the CIR and any other vaccines continue to be recorded in the NIR/PMS. We are working on consolidating these systems into the new National Immunisation Solution and will update you soon on the timeframe for that work. We acknowledge and appreciate your hard work under challenging circumstances with the COVID-19 pandemic and thank you and your teams for ongoing support.
Ngā mihi nui
Deborah Woodley Deputy Director-General Population Health and Prevention