The COVID-19 Public Health Response (Vaccinations) Order 2021 has been amended to expand the recognised list of COVID-19 vaccines under Schedule 3. These changes will come into force at 11.59pm, 25 March 2022.
These additional vaccines are recognised under the Vaccinations Order but workers may also require additional vaccine doses in order to be considered vaccinated in New Zealand. Details of the requirement can be found in Schedule 3 at: https://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2022/0077/latest/LMS655632.html
Novavax has been added to the schedule as a recognised primary course vaccine. It is currently only approved for the primary vaccination course (two vaccination doses) in New Zealand, not as a booster vaccination. However, the Novavax vaccine is available as a booster on prescription from an authorised prescriber.
In addition, the following vaccines are also to be included in Schedule 3:
- Biological E. (BioE) Limited (Corbevax, BECOV2D, BECOV2A, BioE COVID-19)
- Federal Budgetary Research Institution State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR, FBRI (EpiVacCorona-N, EpiVacCorona)
- Health Institutes of Turkey (Turkovac, ERUCOV-VAC)
- Instituto Finlay de Vacunas Cuba (Soberana 02, FINLAY-FR-2, Pasteurcovac)
- National Vaccine and Serum Institute, China (Recombinant SARS-COV-2 Vaccine (CHO Cell), NVSI-0608, Recombinant COVID-19 Vaccine (CHO cell, NVSI-06-08))
- Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research, Iran (FAKHRAVAC, MIVAC)
- Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Iran (Rasi Cov Pars)
If a worker has received a partial or full course of any of these vaccines, then they will require an additional vaccine dose in order to be considered vaccinated in New Zealand.
These changes may be of particular interest if you have any workers who are vaccinated overseas and need to confirm their compliance and requirements with the Vaccinations Order. If you have workers who have received COVID-19 vaccinations overseas, they will need to contact the My Covid Record team on Phone: 0800 222 478 or Email: [email protected]. The team will be able to provide information on what is required to have these vaccinations uploaded and registered against individuals.