COVID-19 vaccines available in New Zealand – Ministry of Health

Last updated: 9March 2022

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The following vaccines are currently available in New Zealand. They have been provisionally approved after a thorough assessment, and must give Medsafe ongoing data and reporting to show that they meet international standards.

Pfizer vaccine for people aged 12 years or older as a primary vaccination course, and for people aged 18 years or older as a primary course and as a booster.

How the Pfizer vaccine works

Pfizer paediatric (child) vaccine for children aged 5 years to 11-years-old as a primary vaccination course.

Children and the COVID-19 vaccine

AstraZeneca vaccine for use in people aged 18 years or older as a primary vaccination course or as a booster dose, with a prescription.

About AstraZeneca

Novavax has been approvedfor primary coursesfor ages 18 and over. It's a two-dose protein subunit vaccine.

About Novavax

Medsafe has granted provisional approval ofJanssenfor primary courses and boosters for ages 18 and over.

Provisional approval does not mean Janssenhave beencommitted forusein New Zealand. Medsafes provisional approval is the first step, with further consideration required by Cabinet on options for its use.

Janssen is a single-doseviral vector vaccine.

Provisional approval was included in the Medicines Act so people in New Zealand can get early access to medicines if its to meet an urgent clinical need.

It allows a vaccine to be used with conditions in place. This restricts how the vaccine is used by health professionals depending on the supporting data available at the time.

COVID-19 vaccines have been given provisional approval in New Zealand because data to support the longer-term safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines is not yet available.

After a vaccine is provisionally approved further consideration is required by Cabinet on whether to use this vaccine. Only then can the vaccine be used in New Zealand.

Medsafe isNew Zealands medicines safety authority. It evaluates applications for all new medicines, including vaccines, to make sure they meet international standards and local requirements.

COVID-19 vaccines are being held to the same standards and requirements as all vaccines before they get full approval.

Medsafe will only recommend a medicine is approved to use in New Zealand if it meets these standards. If approval is granted, it will either be full approval under section 20 of the Medicines Act 1981, or provisional approval under section 23.

Medsafe focuses on three key areas when assessing a vaccine:

Its assessment includes looking at:

Were moving quickly to make sure New Zealand gets the best protection against COVID-19, but this doesnt mean cutting any corners.

Medsafe has made changes to its vaccine assessment and approval process so its more efficient. Medsafe has been:

The Pfizer vaccine (Comirnaty) has been provisionally approved (with conditions) for use in New Zealand.

This means its been formally approved after a thorough assessment, but Pfizer must give Medsafe ongoing data and reporting to show that it meets international standards.

The process Medsafe went through to assess whether the Pfizer vaccine could be approved to use in New Zealand.

Medsafe COVID-19 vaccine evaluation and approval processMedsafe COVID-19 vaccine safety monitoring process

If any of the COVID-19 vaccines arriving into New Zealand contain a new organism, the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) will be involved. Theyll need to approve the import, development and field testing or release under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 (HSNO Act).

EPA have a rapid approval pathway for any vaccines that are, or contain, new organisms which includes genetically modified organisms. They can look at applications at pace where needed and are working with Medsafe and Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) in preparation for the vaccines.

Environmental Protection Agency New organisms

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COVID-19 vaccines available in New Zealand - Ministry of Health