PMAANZ

HNZ: Update this week covering: Weekly vaccination data | Dropbox collateral | NIP summary | MMR | Flu | COVID-19

HNZ: Update this week covering: Weekly vaccination data | Dropbox collateral | NIP summary | MMR | Flu | COVID-19 - 10 June 2022

Dear PMAANZ colleagues,

We’ve got quite a few things to share with you this week. Please feel free to share with your networks  

Weekly vaccination data 

Latest Māori and Pacific COVID-19 vaccination data is now available here. 

Collateral on Dropbox 

Don’t forget we have a range of collateral you and your providers can use to promote vaccinations. Feel free to share this link and the collateral widely: Dropbox - NIP – Vaccine resources for health professionals - Simplify your life  

MMR 

Last week we explained that our MMR campaign was still in the planning stages. We can now confirm that our 2022 campaign will focus solely on the under-five age group. We are reviewing our collateral to ensure it works for parents of young children and will create additional collateral in the coming weeks. We’ll share anything new we produce, including key messages for parents of the target cohort, however please note, due to the limited ‘audience’ we do not expect to produce signage such as teardrop banners at this stage. 

We have updated the MMR video distributed last week, removing the focus on 18 – 34 year olds. It’s on our Dropbox, so feel free to use and share it as needed. 

The measles vaccine with Dr Hina Lutui | Ministry of Health NZ - YouTube   

DHBs are encouraged to continue rolling out their own, localised MMR campaigns, particularly where focused on under five year olds, but please replace the older 'Guardians of the Future' material and use the new brand found in our Dropbox.   

Flu data now online 

The new detailed flu stats we’ve been promising are now live here – Flu vaccine data

Help getting healthcare workers vaccinated against flu 

Our goal is to get 80% of healthcare workers vaccinated against flu, and we appreciate your help promoting this.  

DHBs run flu vaccination programme each year, but employers of non-DHB employed healthcare workers can also claim back the cost of vaccinating their staff. Visit this webpage for more information. 

If there is anything we can do to help increase uptake amongst health and disability workers, please let us know. 

COVID-19 resources in Ukrainian and Russian 

We have Ukrainian arrivals coming into New Zealand under the new Special Policy visa, and were advised that about one third of Ukrainians speak Russian. To support our new Ukrainian refugees we’ve translated two key resources (What to expect and After your vaccination) into Ukrainian and Russian. 

Visiting the translation section in the Dropbox to check them out. 

Gap between doses 

Just in case you haven’t come across this webpage, it provides a guide as to the recommended gap between COVID-19 vaccinations depending on which vaccine and what age you are. Recommended timing gaps for different COVID-19 vaccines | Ministry of Health NZ 

Second booster announcement 

On Tuesday 7 June the Government announced it is introducing a Bill to amend the Medicines Act, enabling voluntary booster doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to be administered to the most vulnerable (six months following their first booster) by all vaccinators without a prescription.  

Health Minister Andrew Little and Associate Minister of COVID-19 Response, Ayesha Verrall issued a press release announcing the proposed eligible group is:  

  • people aged 65 years and over 
  • Māori and Pacific peoples aged 50 years and over 
  • Residents of aged care and disability care facilities 
  • Severely immunocompromised people - who have received a three-dose primary course and a first booster.  

The introduction of the Bill marks the beginning of a legislative process that may take up to the end of June to work through. When the Bill passes, the Director General of Health will be able to formally confirm eligibility criteria and details of the rollout of the second booster. This timeframe is important to pass on in case of questions from the proposed group.   

In the meantime, please reach out if you have any questions.  

ACC cover for vaccination adverse reactions 

COVID-19: Pfizer vaccine side effects and reactions | Ministry of Health NZ

We recently updated the advice on our website to let people know that adverse reactions to vaccines (including the COVID-19 vaccine) may be covered by ACC as a treatment injury.  

Please pass on this message to your primary care and immunisation teams: 

Adverse reactions to vaccines, including the covid-19 vaccine may be covered by ACC as a treatment injury. Treatment injury does not cover ordinary consequences of vaccination. 

Treatment injury does not cover ordinary consequences of vaccination. 

Ask your healthcare provider (Hospital Specialist or GP) if an ACC claim may be appropriate for your situation as you may be entitled to help with medical costs and accessing treatments.   

Webinars - Vaccinating Health Worker role 

The series of stakeholder webinars on the Vaccinating Health Worker role has begun. The first webinar was on 31 May, and over 100 people joined the session. The info shared at each webinar will build on the previous one as the implementation of the role progresses. 

The next webinars will take place on the following dates and times, and can be accessed using the Microsoft Teams links below.  

Please be sure to schedule the dates in your calendars, and pass this information on to your networks. 

Have a lovely weekend everyone. 

Ngā mihi nui,

Sandy

Sandy Thambiah (she/her)

Senior Advisor, Engagement – National Immunisation Programme

Interim Health New Zealand

M   +64 (21) 248 1288

E    sandy.thambiah@health.govt.nz 

W   https://www.hnz.govt.nz