Working with Te Whatu Ora to enable better access to vaccines

This year, many New Zealanders received their vaccinations at pharmacies close to their homes or workplaces. This is thanks to a collaboration between Te Pātaka Whaioranga – Pharmac and the National Public Health Service at Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand.

“Together, we have boosted the number of health providers who can give funded vaccinations and increased vaccination coverage outside of the childhood immunisation programme,” says Pharmac’s Director, Pharmaceuticals, Geraldine MacGibbon. “To do this successfully, we’ve made changes to the Pharmaceutical Schedule and leveraged an existing distribution system.”

In August 2022, Pharmac enabled authorised pharmacists to administer the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine (Boostrix) through changes to the Pharmaceutical Schedule. 

“These changes allow community pharmacies, who are contracted to Te Whatu Ora for immunisation services, to claim for and administer a vaccine for people who meet the eligibility criteria.

“Pharmac has now made similar changes to include the human papillomavirus virus (HPV) vaccine, meningococcal vaccines, and the varicella zoster vaccine for shingles,” says MacGibbon.

The National Public Health Service’s existing COVID-19 vaccine distribution system has been used to distribute the vaccines to pharmacies.

“The COVID-19 distribution system and associated technology has increased the availability and ease of accessing COVID-19 vaccines and treatments,” says Te Whatu Ora Director of Prevention, Matt Hannant.

“It allows pharmacists to order directly through Te Whatu Ora ordering portal, which feeds through to our distribution partners, who then ship the stock to the pharmacy.

“Using this system means we can distribute funded vaccine stock to pharmacies at no cost to them, like how Pharmac distributes funded vaccines to GP vaccinators.

“This system, alongside Pharmac’s changes to the Pharmaceutical Schedule, increases access options and will support opportunistic vaccination at pharmacies,” says Hannant.

The combined programme has been successful in increasing the uptake of Boostrix.

In the 2022/23 financial year, there has been a 5% increase in the distribution of Boostrix to pharmacies. This was specifically targeted at improving immunisation coverage in pregnant people.

“For other vaccines such as meningococcal or HPV, pharmacies are expected to reach more people, particularly young adults, who are not regularly engaged with a GP practice,” says Pharmac’s Geraldine MacGibbon.

“Overall, vaccines can make a huge difference to health outcomes for New Zealanders. We’re happy that the work we’re doing with Te Whatu Ora is reducing barriers to access and supporting optimal use.”