Joint proposal from Pharmac and Te Whatu Ora to enable many childhood vaccinations to be given in pharmacies
What’s being proposed
Te Whatu Ora is looking to enable pharmacists to give certain childhood vaccinations. To support this change, Pharmac is proposing to remove the Xpharm restriction from the following vaccines in the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 March 2024:
- Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio vaccine
- Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, hepatitis B and haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine
- Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine
- Pneumococcal (PCV13) conjugate vaccine
- Rotavirus oral vaccine
- Varicella vaccine [Chickenpox vaccine].
The ‘Xpharm’ restriction means that community pharmacies cannot currently claim reimbursement for these as funded vaccines. The proposed removal of the Xpharm restriction would allow pharmacies across New Zealand to claim reimbursement for these childhood vaccines.
Te Whatu Ora is working with pharmacists to implement training and resources to support this proposal.
Pharmac and Te Whatu Ora welcome your feedback on this proposal. Consultation closes at 5 pm, Monday 29 January 2024.
Feedback about the proposal to remove the Xpharm restriction can be emailed to Pharmac at vaccines@pharmac.govt.nz
Feedback or questions relating to all other aspects of implementation can be emailed to Te Whatu Ora at pharmacy@health.govt.nz
Who we think will be interested
- Pharmacists
- Healthcare professionals working in primary care and outreach vaccination settings
- Pharmaceutical suppliers and wholesalers
- Wellchild Tamariki Ora providers
- Hauora Māori providers
- Pacific Health providers
- Midwifery services
- Social services
- Organisations and people with an interest in immunisation
Why Te Whatu Ora and Pharmac are proposing this
Childhood immunisation rates in New Zealand are lower than in previous years. Increasing the childhood immunisation rates is a priority for Te Whatu Ora. Te Whatu Ora and Pharmac consider that widening the types of healthcare professional who can give childhood vaccines would help in increasing the rates of children who get vaccinated.
Giving vaccinations in community pharmacies would give whānau another opportunity to access funded vaccines. This would make access easier for whānau and could reduce the strain on General Practice. Removing the Xpharm restriction for certain childhood vaccines would support this change and allow community pharmacists to claim for those vaccines.
Details about the proposal
Vaccines included in this proposal
This proposal would result in the removal of the Xpharm restriction from the following vaccines from 1 March 2024:
| Vaccine | Brand (Supplier) |
|---|---|
| Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio vaccine | Infanrix IPV (GSK) |
| Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, hepatitis B and haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine | Infanrix-hexa (GSK) |
| Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine | Hiberix (GSK) |
| Pneumococcal (PCV13) conjugate vaccine | Prevenar 13 (Pfizer) |
| Rotavirus oral vaccine | Rotarix (GSK) |
| Varicella vaccine [Chickenpox vaccine] | Varivax (Merck Sharp & Dohme) |
Removal of the Xpharm restriction
Vaccines are distributed differently to most other funded medicines in New Zealand. The Xpharm restriction means that pharmacies cannot claim subsidy for the funded product. Therefore, pharmacists are not currently providing these vaccinations.
A small number of vaccines are currently listed in the Pharmaceutical Schedule without the Xpharm restriction. Pharmacies can claim for vaccines listed without the Xpharm restriction. This means people can receive these vaccinations, funded, from their pharmacist.
This proposal would result in the removal of Xpharm restriction for the childhood vaccines listed above. Pharmacists would order the funded vaccines through the current CIR Inventory Portal and claim for reimbursement through current processes.
Te Whatu Ora is working with pharmacists to implement training and resources to support this proposal.
This proposal would not have any impact on how vaccines are distributed, given or claimed via General Practice. The proposal would not change the distribution of the influenza and COVID-19 vaccines.
To provide feedback specifically on the proposed removal of the Xpharm restriction
Please email Pharmac: vaccines@pharmac.govt.nz by 5 pm, Monday 29 January 2024
All feedback received will be shared with Te Whatu Ora.
To ask questions or provide feedback about any other aspect of implementation of this proposal
Please email Te Whatu Ora: pharmacy@health.govt.nz
Sharing of feedback
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