Vaccinations

Many pharmacists are now trained as vaccinators and can provide a range of vaccinations at your local pharmacy. This enables you to drop in rather than make an appointment at a doctor's surgery. Some pharmacies may still require you to book an appointment in advance as your vaccine may need to be ordered.

Healthpoint provides up-to-date information about which pharmacies provide vaccines and which vaccines they offer.

The following vaccines are available from pharmacies fully funded by the government for certain eligible groups:

  • Influenza (annual): For eligible people aged 3 years and over. Eligible people include those aged 3 to 12 years, 65 years and over, pregnant women and people with certain chronic conditions (such as heart disease, diabetes, asthma, etc).
  • Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough): For eligible people 18 years and over and pregnant women 13 years and over.
  • Covid-19: For people aged 5 years and over and those eligible from 3 years.
  • Human papillomavirus: For people aged 9 to 26 years and other eligible groups. The HPV vaccine is usually administered through the school-based vaccination programme.
  • Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR): Available for people 3 years and over.
  • Meningococcal B: For eligible people aged 16 years and over.
  • Meningococcal ACYW: For eligible people aged 16 years and over.
  • Zoster (shingles): Funded for people aged 65 years only.

For full details of eligibility criteria talk to your pharmacist.

If you are not eligible for government funding, you can pay privately for the following vaccinations from pharmacies:

  • Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough): People 18 years of age or over who do not meet the funding eligibility criteria.
  • Influenza: People over 13 years of age who are not eligible for funded influenza vaccination.
  • Meningococcal B: People aged 16 years and over who do not meet the funding eligibility criteria.
  • Meningococcal ACYW: People aged 16 years and over who do not meet the funding eligibility criteria.
  • Cholera: Can be purchased as an oral liquid from your pharmacist.
  • Zoster (shingles): Anyone 50 years of age or over.

COVID-19 vaccination

COVID-19 is a disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. It affects your lungs, airways and other organs. You can protect yourself and others by getting vaccinated.

Everyone in New Zealand aged 5 years and over is eligible to be vaccinated for FREE against COVID-19. Pharmacies offer COVID-19 vaccinations for primary courses and boosters.

Regardless of how many boosters you have had, you can get an additional booster now if you are:

  • aged 30 and over
  • pregnant, and aged 16 or over
  • aged 12 to 29 and at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19.

To get a booster, it is recommended that you wait at least 6 months since your last COVID-19 vaccine or infection.

Find out more about COVID-19 vaccines here.