HNZ: COVID-19: CVWUS training to end | Options for becoming a VHW | Vaccinator authorisation workforce portal

Dear primary care colleagues,

I hope you have had a good start to the week.

We wanted to let you know about a few things happening in the Vaccinating Health Worker (VHW) space. Recently, we announced the rollout of the new Vaccinating Health Worker (VHW) role. This role builds on the success of the COVID-19 Vaccinator Working Under Supervision (CVWUS) role and allows you to administer a wider range of vaccines than an authorised CVWUS.

As a result of the new VHW pathway becoming available and very few new registrations to commence CVWUS training, we are ending the learning pathway and training for the CVWUS role, effective from 11 July 2022. From this date, you will no longer be able to submit expressions of interest to become a CVWUS.

A new online portal has also been introduced to make the authorisation process for vaccinators faster, simpler, secure and more convenient.

CVWUS training to end

What this means for you:

• You can continue to train to become a CVWUS if you have already submitted an expression of interest, enrolled in training or begun working your way through the training or practical assessment.
• Please note that the CVWUS role will come to an end on 1 June 2023, so we recommend you complete your training as soon as possible.
• If you are waiting for your authorisation as a CVWUS, we encourage you to enrol and complete VHW training and apply to become a VHW Stage 1.
• If you have enrolled to become a CVWUS but have not yet commenced the training pathway, you may wish to wait until the VHW entry pathway opens for applications on 9 August 2022.

If you are planning to become a VHW and are waiting for the direct entry pathway to become available, there are core learning topics that should be completed and we encourage you to start working through (refer to the attached: Vaccinating Health Worker: Capability Matrix / Version 1: Health New Zealand, 21 June 2022).

Please talk with your employer about these opportunities, as your employer needs to support your training to become a VHW and ensures there is a VHW clinical supervisor in your workplace.

Options for becoming a VHW

As a reminder, there are two options for becoming a VHW:

1. If you are already working as a CVWUS, you can apply to be authorised as a Stage 1 VHW, which will allow you to administer the influenza and COVID-19 Pfizer vaccines to people aged 12 and over, and the HPV Gardasil and the Boostrix (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) vaccines to people aged 11 and over.

In due course, you will then be able to apply to become a VHW Stage 2, which will enable you to prepare and administer all Stage 1 vaccines, all COVID-19 vaccines, and measles, mumps and rubella vaccines to people aged 5 and over.

Via your LMS account, you will need to complete learning modules on administering the vaccines. Then you will undertake a clinical assessment, administering vaccines under observation.

1. If you’re a new entrant VHW ie, not a CVWUS, you will soon be able to apply to become a VHW directly. We are currently developing a direct entry learning pathway, which we are aiming to open for applications on 9 August 2022.

We look forward to supporting you as you transition into the Vaccinating Health Worker role.

We will provide progress updates through stakeholder engagements and on the Ministry of Health website Vaccinating workforce | Ministry of Health NZ.

If you have any questions, please emailvaccinatorauthorisations@health.govt.nz.

Vaccinator authorisation workforce portal

The new workforce request portal for vaccinators will keep your information safe and is more secure than the current process via email.

Instead of conducting the (re)authorisation process by email, the portal will allow you to create your own profile, submit the relevant documentation, and easily check the status of your application.  

While you are now able to submit your application and supporting documents via the portal, it will take some time to fully transition to the new system. Eventually, we will send your authorisation e-letter via the portal.  For the next few months, you will still receive your authorisation letter via email.  

Use of the portal only applies for those who are authorised centrally by the National Immunisation Programme (the Programme).

The Programme employs two Medical Officers of Health who approve authorisation for the following vaccinator types:

• Provisional vaccinators
• COVID-19 vaccinators working under supervision (CVWUS)
• Vaccinating Health Workers

Please note, these Medical Officers of Health are employed by the National Immunisation Programme and are dedicated to the Programme’s authorisation function.

It is status quo for Medical Officers of Health when authorising your day to day workforce.

If you are applying for authorisation, or your authorisation is coming up for renewal, we look forward to receiving it via the portal. In the meantime, thank you for your continued efforts in supporting Aotearoa with vaccinations.

Ngā mihi nui,

Sandy

Sandy Thambiah

Senior Adviser, Engagement

National Immunisation Programme

waeapūkoro:+64 21 248 1288|īmēra: sandy.thambiah@health.govt.nz

133 Molesworth Street,Te Whanganui-a-Tara

Follow us on LinkedIn| Facebook|Instagram