About Vaccinating Health Worker (VHW) Stage 1 Training

In May 2022 Te Whatu Ora - Health NZ announced the Medicines Regulations have been updated to include Regulation 44AA, “Alternative authorisation of vaccinators”. This led to the introduction of the VHW role.

The VHW role will replace the existing authorised COVID-19 Vaccinator Working Under Supervision (CVWUS) workforce. With the appropriate training authorised VHWs can administer three other vaccines in addition to COVID-19 (Pfizer) vaccine. This includes influenza, Tdap, and HPV9 vaccines.

As outlined in the Te Whatu Ora VHW Capability Matrix there are two stages to the VHW training.

Stage 1 provides the pathway to move to a different scope of practice in Stage 2. Both stages require the VHW to work under the supervision and direction of a registered healthcare professional.

VHW training is recommended for people in the following professions who would like to become a vaccinator and be part of the Aotearoa immunisation workforce.

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