Proposal for new supply agreements for funded vaccines in the National Immunisation Schedule, and widened access to influenza vaccine - Page 1 of 4 - Pharmac Consultations

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What we’re proposing

We are proposing to enter into new supply agreements for a number of funded vaccines following a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the supply of various vaccines and a diagnostic test.

We have reached provisional agreements with five suppliers for the supply of 17 funded vaccines and one diagnostic test. The influenza vaccines would be funded for the 2027 and 2028 influenza seasons from 1 April 2027 to 31 December 2028, with optional extensions for the 2029 and 2030 influenza seasons. The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine would be funded from 1 July 2027 to 30 June 2029 with a one year right of renewal to 30 June 2030. All other vaccines and the diagnostic test would be funded from 1 July 2027 to 30 June 2030.

Feedback to this consultation will help us decide whether to go ahead with this proposal. Consultation closes at 5 pm, Friday, 19 June 2026 and feedback can be emailed to vaccines@pharmac.govt.nz

Vaccines not included in this proposal

Meningococcal B vaccine (Bexsero) and varicella zoster vaccine (Shingrix) are currently listed on the Pharmaceutical Schedule. These vaccines are subject to a listing agreement and would continue to listed in the Pharmaceutical Schedule as they are now.

What would the effect be?

In total, the proposal would result in funding 17 vaccines and 1 diagnostic test.

This proposal would result in the continued supply of 13 currently funded brands of vaccines and 1 diagnostic test, and a change to the funded brand for meningococcal, pneumococcal and influenza vaccines in the National Immunisation Schedule.

If approved, this proposal would result in the Fluad and Flucelvax influenza vaccines supplied by Seqirus being funded in New Zealand for the first time from 1 April 2027. Both of these vaccines are ranked on Pharmac’s Options for Investment list.

The influenza vaccine eligibility criteria would also be widened to include all children aged from 6 months up to 5 years (6-59 months inclusive). Around 260,000 children would be eligible to receive this vaccine.

The Prevenar 20 brand of Pneumococcal vaccine supplied by Pfizer would also be funded for the first time from 1 July 2027.

Pharmac has received funding applications for pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) for secondary prophylaxis in individuals who have previously had invasive pneumococcal disease. Following clinical advice defining the eligibility criteria, the Prevenar 20 brand of pneumococcal vaccine would be funded for this group as part of this proposal.

In total, we expect over 1.5 million people to receive the vaccines in this proposal in the first year of funding.

Key elements of the proposal are summarised below:

Funded vaccines with no proposed changes

The following vaccines and diagnostic test would continue to be supplied by the same supplier, with the same brand and same eligibility criteria from 1 July 2027 to 30 June 2030:

Table 1: funded vaccines and diagnostic test with no proposed changes

Vaccine	Brand (Supplier)
Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine	Boostrix (GSK)
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio vaccine	Infanrix IPV (GSK)
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine	Infanrix-Hexa (GSK)
Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine	Act-HIB (Sanofi)
Hepatitis A adult vaccine	Havrix 1440 (GSK)
Hepatitis A paediatric vaccine	Havrix Junior (GSK)
Hepatitis B adult recombinant vaccine	Engerix-B (GSK)
Hepatitis B paediatric recombinant vaccine	Engerix-B Paediatric (GSK)
Human Papillomavirus vaccine	Gardasil 9 (MSD)
Measles, mumps and rubella vaccine	Priorix (GSK)
Poliomyelitis (inactivated) vaccine	IPOL (Sanofi)
Rotavirus oral vaccine	Rotarix (GSK)
Varicella (Chicken pox) vaccine	Varilrix (GSK)
Tuberculin PPD (Mantoux) test	Tubersol (Sanofi)

Proposed changes to brands of funded vaccines

The following vaccines would continue to be funded, but would be supplied by different suppliers with different brands or presentations:

Table 2: funded vaccines with proposed brand changes

Vaccine	Current funded brand (supplier)	Proposed funded brand (supplier)
Meningococcal (groups A, C, Y and W-135) conjugate vaccine	MenQuadfi (Sanofi) - over 12 months Nimenrix (Pfizer) – under 12 months	Nimenrix (Pfizer) – all ages
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine	Prevenar 13 (Pfizer)	Prevenar 20 (Pfizer)*
Influenza vaccine	Influvac Tetra (Viatris)	Flucelvax and Fluad (Seqirus)

*subject to Medsafe approval, see below for more details

Influenza vaccine brand changes

This proposal would result in brand changes to the influenza vaccine for people aged 65 years and over to Fluad (adjuvanted influenza vaccine) and for the under 65 age group to Flucelvax (cell-based influenza vaccine). Both vaccines are ranked on Pharmac’s Options for Investment list.

Widened access

As part of this RFP process, Pharmac requested proposals for widened access for a range of vaccines on the Options for Investment list.

This proposal would include widened access to the Flucelvax brand of influenza vaccine for all children from 6 months up to 5 years of age (6-59 months inclusive).

We are also proposing to widen access to a vaccine to help prevent people who have already had a serious pneumococcal infection from getting it again. We estimate about 700 people will be eligible for this treatment in the first year.

The other proposals for widened access would not be progressed through this RFP but remain on the Options for Investment list for consideration of future funding.

Implementation

Health NZ’s Immunisation Handbook would be updated to reflect these proposed changes, if approved, and would continue to provide information to vaccinators on the recommended timing of dosing for particular vaccines and catch up programmes.

There are no proposed changes to ordering or distribution mechanisms for these vaccines.

Why we’re proposing this

Pharmac released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the supply of various vaccines and influenza vaccine on 5 August 2025.

We sought expert clinical advice from Pharmac’s Immunisation Advisory Committee in April 2025, June 2025 and November 2025 on the proposed brand changes and widened access options.

Pharmac has a number of open funding applications for various vaccines currently ranked on its Options for Investment list, which have received positive funding recommendations.

The August 2025 RFP has allowed us to propose funding a number of these items.

In July 2025, the Immunisation Advisory Committee recommended the Fluad adjuvanted inactivated trivalent influenza vaccine be funded with a high priority for people aged 65 years and older.

In July 2025, the Immunisation Advisory Committee recommended the Flucelvax cell-based inactivated trivalent influenza vaccine be funded with a high priority for people aged 6 months to under 65 years.

In November 2025, the Immunisation Advisory Committee recommended the Prevenar 20 Pneumococcal vaccine be funded with a high priority.

In January 2025, the Immunisation Advisory Committee recommended that the influenza vaccine be funded for children from 6 months up to 5 years of age (6-59 months inclusive) with a high priority.

As a result of the RFP, Pharmac has entered into provisional agreements with GSK New Zealand Limited, Merck Sharp and Dohme New Zealand Limited, Pfizer New Zealand Limited, Sanofi-Aventis Australia Pty Ltd, Seqirus New Zealand Limited and for the supply of various vaccines. Feedback on this consultation will help us decide if these agreements should be confirmed.

Details about our proposal

The current funding criteria applying to all vaccines can be found in Section I (National Immunisation Schedule) and Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule.

For the vaccines outlined in Table 1 above there would be no changes to the funded brand or supplier. Details about vaccines with proposed changes and other aspects of the proposal can be found below.

1. Supply and price arrangements

Principal Supply Status (PSS) would be applied to all vaccines in this proposal. PSS means that the principal supplier’s brand would be the main brand funded in the community and/or bought by hospitals, with an alternative brand allowance of 5%.

Confidential net prices would apply to all vaccines where provisional agreements have been reached as a result of this RFP.

2. Distribution arrangements

Vaccines are distributed differently to most other pharmaceuticals. The method for ordering vaccines by vaccinators would remain the same as a result of this proposal.

The distribution of the influenza vaccine would remain the same as a result of this proposal. Influenza vaccine is listed in the Pharmaceutical Schedule and distributed in a similar way to other pharmaceuticals.

3. Funded vaccines with no proposed changes

From 1 July 2027, the following vaccines would continue to be listed in Section I and Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule as outlined below.

Table Table

Chemical	Formulation	Brand	Pack size	Price*
Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine	Inj 2 IU diphtheria toxoid with 20 IU tetanus toxoid, 8 mcg pertussis toxoid, 8 mcg pertussis filamentous haemagglutinin and 2.5 mcg pertactin in 0.5 ml prefilled syringe	Boostrix (GSK)	10	$0.00
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio vaccine	Inj 30 IU diphtheria toxoid with 40 IU tetanus toxoid, 25 mcg pertussis toxoid, 25 mcg pertussis filamentous haemagglutinin, 8 mcg pertactin and 80 D-antigen units poliomyelitis virus in 0.5ml syringe	Infanrix IPV (GSK)	10	$0.00
Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, hepatitis B and haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine	Inj 30IU diphtheria with 40IU tetanus and 25mcg pertussis toxoids, 25mcg pertussis filamentous haemagglutinin, 8mcg pertactin, 80D-AgU polio virus, 10mcg hepatitis B antigen, 10mcg H. influenzae type b with tetanus toxoid 20-40mcg in 0.5ml syringe	Infanrix Hexa (GSK)	10	$0.00
Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine	Inj 10 mcg vial with diluent syringe	Act-HIB (Sanofi)	1	$0.00
Hepatitis A adult vaccine	Inj 1440 ELISA units in 1 ml syringe	Havrix 1440 (GSK)	1	$0.00
Hepatitis A paediatric vaccine	Inj 720 ELISA units in 0.5 ml syringe	Havrix Junior (GSK)	1	$0.00
Hepatitis B adult recombinant vaccine	Inj 20 mcg per 0.5 ml prefilled syringe	Engerix-B (GSK)	1	$0.00
Hepatitis B paediatric recombinant vaccine	Inj 10 mcg per 0.5 ml prefilled syringe	Engerix-B Paediatric (GSK)	1	$0.00
Human papillomavirus vaccine	Inj 270 mcg in 0.5 ml syringe	Gardasil 9 (MSD)	10	$0.00
Measles, mumps and rubella vaccine	Inj, measles virus 1,000 CCID50, mumps virus 5,012 CCID50, Rubella virus 1,000 CCID50; prefilled syringe/ampoule of diluent 0.5 ml	Priorix (GSK)	1	$0.00
Poliomyelitis (inactivated) vaccine	Inj 80D antigen units in 0.5 ml syringe	IPOL (Sanofi)	1	$0.00
Rotavirus oral vaccine	Oral susp live attenuated human rotavirus 1,000,000 CCID50 per dose, squeezable tube	Rotarix (GSK)	1	$0.00
Varicella (Chicken pox) vaccine	Inj 2000 PFU prefilled syringe plus vial	Varilrix (GSK)	1	$0.00
Tuberculin PPD (Mantoux) test	Inj 5 TU per 0.1 ml, 1 ml vial	Tubersol (Sanofi)	1	$0.00

*Vaccine and test kit prices are listed with zero cost in the Pharmaceutical Schedule, as they are distributed free of charge to vaccinators.

4. Meningococcal (groups A, C, Y and W-135) conjugate vaccine

From 1 July 2027, Nimenrix (supplied by Pfizer) would be listed in Section I (National Immunisation Schedule) and Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule as outlined below:

Chemical	Presentation	Brand	Pack Size	Subsidy
Meningococcal (groups A, C, Y and W-135) conjugate vaccine	Inj 5 mcg of each meningococcal polysaccharide conjugated to a total of approximately 44 mcg of tetanus toxoid carrier per 0.5 ml vial	Nimenrix	1	$0.00
Meningococcal (groups A, C, Y and W-135) conjugate vaccine	Inj 5 mcg of each meningococcal polysaccharide conjugated to a total of approximately 44 mcg of tetanus toxoid carrier per 0.5 ml vial	Nimenrix	10	$0.00

The Xpharm rule applied to the Nimenrix 1 pack in Section I (National Immunisation Schedule) would be removed from 1 July 2027.

The eligibility criteria in Section I (National Immunisation Schedule) of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 July 2027 would be as outlined below. Similar eligibility criteria would apply in Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule.

Access criteria for vaccine Access criteria for vaccine

Any of the following:
1. Up to three doses (dependant on age at first dose) and a booster every five years for patients pre- and post-splenectomy and for patients with functional or anatomic asplenia, HIV, complement deficiency (acquired or inherited), or pre or post solid organ transplant; or
2. A maximum of three doses (dependant on age at first dose) for close contacts of meningococcal cases of any group; or
3. A maximum of three doses (dependant on age at first dose) for person who has previously had meningococcal disease of any group; or
4. A maximum of three doses (dependant on age at first dose) for bone marrow transplant patients; or
5. A maximum of three doses (dependant on age at first dose) for person pre- and post-immunosuppression*; or
Both:
1. Person is aged between 13 and 25 years, inclusive; and
2. Either:
  1. One dose for individuals who are entering within the next three months, or in their first year of living in boarding school hostels, tertiary education halls of residence, military barracks, Youth Justice residences, or prisons; or
  2. One dose for individuals who turn 13 years of age while living in boarding school hostels.
Contractors will be entitled to claim payment from the Funder for the supply of Meningococcal A, C, Y and W-135 vaccine to patients eligible under the above criteria pursuant to their contract with Health New Zealand (Health NZ) for subsidised immunisation, and they may only do so in respect of the Meningococcal A, C, Y and W-135 vaccine listed in the Pharmaceutical Schedule.
Contractors may only claim for patient populations within the criteria that are covered by their contract, which may be a sub-set of the population described in paragraphs A-B above.

Note. *Immunosuppression due to steroid or other immunosuppressive therapy must be for a period of greater than 28 days.

5. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine

From 1 July 2027, PCV20 (supplied by Pfizer) would be listed in Section I (National Immunisation Schedule) and Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule as outlined below:

Chemical	Presentation	Brand	Pack Size	Subsidy
Pneumococcal (PCV20) conjugate vaccine	Inj 46.2 mcg of pneumococcal polysaccharide serotypes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 8, 9V, 10A, 11A, 12F, 14, 15B, 18C, 19A, 19F, 22F, 23F, and 33F in 0.5 ml prefilled syringe	Prevenar 20	1	$0.00
Pneumococcal (PCV20) conjugate vaccine	Inj 46.2 mcg of pneumococcal polysaccharide serotypes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 8, 9V, 10A, 11A, 12F, 14, 15B, 18C, 19A, 19F, 22F, 23F, and 33F in 0.5 ml prefilled syringe	Prevenar 20	10	$0.00

The eligibility criteria in Section I (National Immunisation Schedule) from 1 July 2027 would be as outlined below. Similar eligibility criteria would apply in Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule.

Special Authority access criteria Special Authority access criteria

Any of the following:

A course of up to three doses for previously unvaccinated children from 6 weeks up to the age of 59 months inclusive who are either previously unvaccinated with PCV13 or have not yet completed a primary vaccination course; or
Up to four doses (3+1 schedule) for [re]immunisation of high risk children aged from 6 weeks up to the age of 59 months inclusive; or
A single dose for high risk individuals over the age of 12 months and under 18 years who have not yet started or completed a primary pneumococcal vaccination course; or
Both:
1. A booster dose every five years for the (re-)immunisation of high-risk individuals aged between 5 and under 18 years; and
2. Either:
  1. Person has not received a pneumococcal vaccination within the past five years; or
  2. Person has had a haematopoietic stem cell transplantation and requires revaccination within five years of previous pneumococcal vaccination; and
Person has any of the following:
1. Pre term infants, born before 28 weeks gestation; or
2. Previously documented episode of invasive pneumococcal disease; or
3. Immunodeficiency or immunosuppression including any of the following:
  1. Primary immunodeficiency; or
  2. Down syndrome; or
  3. Complement deficiency (acquired or inherited); or
  4. Haematological malignancies; or
  5. Pre- or post haematopoietic stem cell transplantation; or
  6. Pre-, during, or post- chemotherapy or radiation therapy; or
  7. Pre- or post- splenectomy; or
  8. Asplenia or dysfunction of the spleen including individuals with coeliac disease who are diagnosed with splenic dysfunction and all haemoglobinopathies including homozygous sickle cell disease; or
  9. Pre- or post- solid organ transplant; or
  10. Pre-, during, or post- immunosuppressive therapy, including receiving corticosteroid therapy for more than two weeks, and who are on an equivalent daily dosage of prednisone of 2 mg/kg per day or greater, or children who weigh more than 10 kg on a total daily dosage of 20 mg or greater; or
  11. HIV; or
4. Chronic pulmonary disease (including bronchiectasis or cystic fibrosis); or
5. Severe or poorly controlled asthma; or
6. Congenital or acquired (eg rheumatic heart disease) cardiac disease, cyanosis or failure; or
7. Chronic kidney disease stage 4 or 5, including renal dialysis; or
8. Nephrotic syndrome; or
9. Pre- or post- cochlear implants; or
10. Intracranial shunts; or
11. Cerebrospinal fluid leaks; or
12. Diabetes; or
A single dose and a booster dose every five years for high-risk individuals aged 18 years and over; and
1. Person has any of the following:
  1. Previously documented episode of invasive pneumococcal disease; or
  2. Immunodeficiency or immunosuppression including any of the following:
    1. Primary immunodeficiency; or
    2. Down syndrome; or
    3. Complement deficiency (acquired or inherited); or
    4. Haematological malignancies; or
    5. Pre- or post- haematopoietic stem cell transplant; or
    6. Pre-, current, or post- chemotherapy or radiation therapy; or
    7. Pre- or post- splenectomy; or
    8. Asplenia or dysfunction of the spleen including individuals with coeliac disease who are diagnosed with splenic dysfunction and all haemoglobinopathies including homozygous sickle cell disease; or
    9. Pre- or post- solid organ transplant; or
    10. Pre-, current, or post- immunosuppressive therapy, including receiving corticosteroid therapy for more than two weeks, and who are on an equivalent daily dosage of prednisone of 2 mg/kg per day or greater; or
    11. HIV; or
  3. Chronic pulmonary disease (including bronchiectasis or cystic fibrosis); or
  4. Severe or poorly controlled asthma; or
  5. Congenital or acquired (eg rheumatic heart disease or ischaemic heart disease) cardiac disease, with cyanosis or failure; or
  6. Chronic kidney disease stage 4 or 5, including renal dialysis; or
  7. Nephrotic syndrome; or
  8. Pre- or post- cochlear implants; or
  9. Intracranial shunts; or
  10. Cerebrospinal fluid leaks; and
2. Either:
  1. Person has not been vaccinated with both PCV13 AND PPV23 within the past five years; or
  2. Person has had a haematopoietic stem cell transplantation and requires revaccination within five years of previous pneumococcal vaccination.

The provisional agreement with Pfizer for PCV20 is conditional on Medsafe approval being received. An application from Pfizer is currently being assessed by Medsafe.

6. Influenza vaccine

From 1 February 2027, Fluad and Flucelvax (supplied by Seqirus) would be listed in Section I (National Immunisation Schedule) and Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule as outlined below:

Chemical	Presentation	Brand	Pack Size	Subsidy
Influenza vaccine	Inj 45 mcg in 0.5 ml syringe (adjuvanted trivalent vaccine)	Fluad	10	$200.00
Influenza vaccine	Inj 45 mcg in 0.5 ml syringe (trivalent vaccine)	Flucelvax	10	$140.00

The current list price for influenza vaccine is $12.00 per dose. It is proposed that the list price for the Flucelvax brand of influenza vaccine would increase to $14.00 per dose and the list price for the Fluad brand of adjuvanted influenza vaccine would increase to $20.00 per dose from 1 February 2027. The list price increase may also result in a higher purchase price for people who are not eligible for funded influenza vaccine and purchase it privately.

It is proposed that the widened access for all children from 6 months up to 5 years (6-59 months inclusive) will be applied to the Flucelvax eligibility criteria. This is because Flucelvax is the vaccine used in the under 65 age group.

The eligibility criteria in Section I (National Immunisation Schedule) of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 February 2027 would be as outlined below. Similar eligibility criteria would apply in Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule.

Access criteria for adjuvanted trivalent influenza vaccine (Fluad) Access criteria for adjuvanted trivalent influenza vaccine (Fluad)

ADJUVANTED INFLUENZA VACCINE is available each year for patients who meet the following criteria, as set by Pharmac:
1. all people 65 years of age and over

Access criteria for trivalent influenza vaccine (Flucelvax) Access criteria for trivalent influenza vaccine (Flucelvax)

INFLUENZA VACCINE is available each year for patients who meet the following criteria, as set by Pharmac:
1. all children aged 6 months to 59 months inclusive, or
2. people under 65 years of age who:
  1. have any of the following cardiovascular diseases:
    1. ischaemic heart disease, or
    2. congestive heart failure, or
    3. rheumatic heart disease, or
    4. congenital heart disease, or
    5. cerebro-vascular disease; or
  2. have either of the following chronic respiratory diseases:
    1. asthma, if on a regular preventative therapy, or
    2. other chronic respiratory disease with impaired lung function; or
  3. have diabetes; or
  4. have chronic renal disease; or
  5. have any cancer, excluding basal and squamous skin cancers if not invasive; or
  6. have any of the following other conditions:
    1. autoimmune disease, or
    2. immune suppression or immune deficiency, or
    3. HIV, or
    4. transplant recipients, or
    5. neuromuscular and CNS diseases/disorders, or
    6. haemoglobinopathies, or
    7. are children on long term aspirin, or
    8. have a cochlear implant, or
    9. errors of metabolism at risk of major metabolic decompensation, or
    10. pre and post splenectomy, or
    11. Down syndrome, or

1. 1. are pregnant; or
  2. have any of the following serious mental health conditions:
    1. schizophrenia, or
    2. major depressive disorder, or
    3. bipolar disorder, or
    4. schizoaffective disorder, or
  3. are currently accessing secondary or tertiary mental health and addiction services; or

Unless meeting the criteria set out above, the following conditions are excluded from funding:

1. asthma not requiring regular preventative therapy,
2. hypertension and/or dyslipidaemia without evidence of end-organ disease.
Contractors will be entitled to claim payment for the supply of influenza vaccine to patients eligible under the above criteria pursuant to their contract with Health NZ for subsidised immunisation, and they may only do so in respect of the influenza vaccine listed in the Pharmaceutical Schedule.
Contractors may only claim for patient populations within the criteria that are covered by their contract, which may be a sub-set of the population described in paragraph A above.

7. Supply arrangements

As outlined in the RFP, Pharmac would underwrite 75% of the net cost of 100,000 doses of influenza vaccine per influenza season if not all vaccine has been distributed by the end of the influenza season. This underwriting would apply proportionately to the remaining stock of each vaccine brand at the end of the influenza season up to the maximum of 100,000 doses.