Note: From 1 July 2026, fees will apply to some vaccinator training courses, as temporary funding that enabled full fee subsidies from Health New Zealand has ended. Course fees are shown when the course is selected, or you can click here for a table of new course fees, effective from 1 July, and more information. Please note that foundation‑level courses will remain free to support employers and new vaccinators entering the workforce.

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Introduction to travel health

This 8-hour course introduces travel health essentials to help primary care providers confidently deliver basic travel health consultations for non-complex travellers.

Core knowledge in areas such as the immune system, cold chain, informed consent, and screening is assumed. If you are not a qualified vaccinator, we strongly recommend completing our free foundation education course beforehand.

Note: 'Introduction to travel health' does not replace the need for those who will prescribe travel medicine to complete appropriate post-graduate education.

Also note that the 0800IMMUNE phone line does not give specific travel health advice. The course includes other points of contact for specific travel health information.

Registration requirements  

You must:

• be an authorised or pharmacist vaccinator

• have a current annual practicing certificate  

• OR be otherwise involved in the delivery of travel health.

Course content: 

• An overview of travel health
• Setting up for travel health consults
• Travel-health risk assessment
• Safe travel advice
• Vaccine-preventable diseases - National Immunisation Schedule (NIS) and funded vaccines for special groups.
• Vaccine-preventable diseases – travel vaccines available in New Zealand.
• Other relevant infectious diseases
• Scenarios

Assessment

The assessment is a set of 30 multiple choice questions with 60 minutes to complete.