Childhood Immunisations and Pharmacy - Action Required

Kia ora koutou katoa,

Hopefully you have seen the GenPro media release dated 22 January 2024 and associated media coverage relating to the issue of Pharmacy being enabled and funded to deliver childhood immunisations.[ GPs at odds with Pharmac's plan to extend access to childhood vaccines | Newshub]   

Alongside GenPro, we support access to timely immunisations but we see the best way to achieve that is through further investment in General Practice.  

Pharmac are now seeking feedback on the proposal.  

We strongly encourage you to provide feedback on the proposed removal of the Xpharm restriction.  

You can do this by emailing vaccines@pharmac.govt.nz   

GenPro has very kindly allowed us to use their feedback draft, which includes the key messages. Please feel free to use these and to add to or edit them as you see fit.  
 
We believe the delivery of childhood immunisation should be undertaken by General Practice.
This is to: 

• Build on the existing systems and processes that currently provide safe and timely immunisations to the majority of the population of Aotearoa New Zealand. 
• Establish an early connection between the whānau and their General Practice Team. 
• Provide the opportunity for other issues to be detected and addressed. 
• Support the lifelong benefits of continuity of care, which is evidenced.  
• Ensure investment in immunisation delivery supports and grows the existing value add services and reflects the value of this. 
• Ensure the best use of funds by enhancing an effective existing service that is significantly underfunded rather than creating a brand new and unintegrated service 
• Ensure that precall and recall for all health issues are managed by a single entity to minimise the risk of enrolled patients missing out. 
• Avoid fragmentation of care. 

The deadline for this is 5pm, Monday 29 January 2024.   

All feedback received will be shared with Te Whatu Ora.