Sally Furniss
Well-known member
National Health Emergency Plan
H5N1 Pre-Pandemic Vaccine Usage Policy
Key Points
• The NZ Government holds 200,000 vaccination courses of H5N1 pre-pandemic
vaccine made from a currently circulating avian influenza virus.
• The vaccine is stored in New Zealand. It is a Crown Asset managed by the Ministry
of Health.
• The vaccine may only be released for use by the Director General of Health after
considering all relevant available information and the advice of the Director of
Public Health.
• The vaccination course requires two doses of vaccine given at least 3 weeks apart;
with 3 week timing, it takes about six weeks from the first dose to the development
of immunity to the seed virus.
• Development of immunity to the seed avian H5N1 influenza virus may provide
cross-protection against a human H5N1 virus, but the effectiveness of any
protection cannot be known ahead of time.
• Offers of vaccine will be prioritised between and within agencies and services in the
national interest.
• The vaccine will be offered to people in specifically identified agencies and/or
occupational groups who provide essential pandemic response services AND who,
by the nature of their duties, may be closely and continually exposed to people who
have, or may have, human H5N1 influenza, AND who cannot reasonably modify
their work practices to further reduce the risks of exposure.
• Current target groups are approximately 150,000 front-line workers in:
Health
Defence
Police
Border management agencies
Social support agencies
Corrections
Fire Services
NZ-based international aircrew.
• A 50,000 course strategic reserve is not yet allocated or prioritised. This will be
done according to the characteristics and epidemiology of the emerging disease.
• People wishing to have the vaccine must sign an informed consent form.
• The vaccine will be free of charge to qualifying people who sign the informed
consent form. It will not be available for sale or purchase.
• DHBs will be responsible for administering vaccine to all qualifying people other
than Defence staff, who will be vaccinated by Defence Medical Services.
• The Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau will be supplied with population-based pro-rata
volumes.
Download this publication
Word:National Health Emergency Plan; H5N1 Pre-Pandemic Vaccine Usage Policy (Word, 269 KB)
PDF:
National Health Emergency Plan; H5N1 Pre-Pandemic Vaccine Usage Policy (PDF, 138 KB)
H5N1 Pre-Pandemic Vaccine Usage Policy
Key Points
• The NZ Government holds 200,000 vaccination courses of H5N1 pre-pandemic
vaccine made from a currently circulating avian influenza virus.
• The vaccine is stored in New Zealand. It is a Crown Asset managed by the Ministry
of Health.
• The vaccine may only be released for use by the Director General of Health after
considering all relevant available information and the advice of the Director of
Public Health.
• The vaccination course requires two doses of vaccine given at least 3 weeks apart;
with 3 week timing, it takes about six weeks from the first dose to the development
of immunity to the seed virus.
• Development of immunity to the seed avian H5N1 influenza virus may provide
cross-protection against a human H5N1 virus, but the effectiveness of any
protection cannot be known ahead of time.
• Offers of vaccine will be prioritised between and within agencies and services in the
national interest.
• The vaccine will be offered to people in specifically identified agencies and/or
occupational groups who provide essential pandemic response services AND who,
by the nature of their duties, may be closely and continually exposed to people who
have, or may have, human H5N1 influenza, AND who cannot reasonably modify
their work practices to further reduce the risks of exposure.
• Current target groups are approximately 150,000 front-line workers in:
Health
Defence
Police
Border management agencies
Social support agencies
Corrections
Fire Services
NZ-based international aircrew.
• A 50,000 course strategic reserve is not yet allocated or prioritised. This will be
done according to the characteristics and epidemiology of the emerging disease.
• People wishing to have the vaccine must sign an informed consent form.
• The vaccine will be free of charge to qualifying people who sign the informed
consent form. It will not be available for sale or purchase.
• DHBs will be responsible for administering vaccine to all qualifying people other
than Defence staff, who will be vaccinated by Defence Medical Services.
• The Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau will be supplied with population-based pro-rata
volumes.
Download this publication
Word:National Health Emergency Plan; H5N1 Pre-Pandemic Vaccine Usage Policy (Word, 269 KB)
PDF:
National Health Emergency Plan; H5N1 Pre-Pandemic Vaccine Usage Policy (PDF, 138 KB)
