Heads up. Pharmac is considering two key changes in the provision of Covid vaccines, effective 2026:
- Lifting the age criteria for 6 monthly funded additional doses from 30+ to 50+ (plus targeted groups).
- Private vaccines for those that fall outside the criteria.
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Pharmac has sent out an RFP for supply of Covid vaccines from 1 February 2026 until 30 September 2027, with possible extensions until 30 September 2029.
Any changes to eligibility would be subject to consultation and likely not take effect until 2026.
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pharmac.govt.nz/news-and-resou…
Instead of funding additional doses every 6 months for those aged 30+, additional doses would be available every 6 months for:
- all people aged 50 years and over;
- pregnant people;
- people with serious mental health conditions;
- people with a BMI of 35 or over;
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- disabled people with significant or complex health needs, including those who receive Ministry of Disabled People | Whaikaha Disability Support Services;
- people aged 12 years and over with a medical condition that increases the risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
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‘The clinical advice we received in relation to the proposed eligibility criteria was for a slightly narrower group of people, specifically all people aged 65 years and over, and Māori and Pacific people from 50 years and over.’
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‘We are proposing to widen this to include all people aged 50 years and over to allow targeted implementation to other groups who may be experiencing health disparities.’
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Pharmac is also suggesting a private vaccine market for those who do not meet the eligibility criteria, as happens with the influenza vaccine market.
IMAC made a similar suggestion in its March 2024 advice to Pharmac.
7/pharmac.govt.nz/assets/2024-03…
IMAC, March 2024:
"The Committee considered it would be advantageous for people not eligible for funded [COVID-19] vaccines to have the option to purchase vaccines if they wished. It it is suppliers who will decide whether they will support a private market for vaccines."
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