About vaccines
Getting yourself and your tamariki immunised is one of the best ways to stop getting really sick from many vaccine-preventable diseases.
Lots of vaccines are free
In Aotearoa New Zealand we have a National Immunisation Schedule. This lists the vaccines offered to tamariki and adults and the best time to get immunised.
National Immunisation Schedule
- For children under 18, all vaccinations on the National Immunisation Schedule are free – it does not matter what their visa or citizenship status is. This includes visitors to Aotearoa New Zealand.
- Lots of vaccines are also free for adults, including measles. Some you have to pay for if you do not meet certain criteria.
- If you’re pregnant, the whooping cough and flu vaccines are free.
You may need to pay for extra vaccines that are not on the schedule (like travel vaccines). Check with your doctor, nurse, or healthcare provider when booking an immunisation if there is a cost.
List of vaccines given in NZ
Learn about the vaccines given to children and adults. Plus extra vaccines free to high risk groups.
The benefits of immunisation
As well as protecting your tamariki from infectious disease, there are lots of reasons why immunisation benefits your children, your whānau, and your community.
Vaccine side effects, reactions, and safety
Learn about the common reactions to immunisation and how to treat them. Every vaccine available in Aotearoa New Zealand has been assessed for safety and effectiveness.
How vaccines work
Vaccines train the immune system to produce antibodies that protect us from getting sick.