Protect yourself, your whānau, and your community

Immunisation saves lives. As well as protecting yourself from dangerous diseases, getting your tamariki vaccinated is one of the best ways to set them up for a healthy future.

Lots of vaccines in New Zealand are free:

• 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.

Monday 29 May to Sunday 4 June is Aotearoa Immunisation Week. This is a great time to make sure everyone in your whānau is up to date with their vaccinations.

• there are pop-up vaccination events across the motu
• some vaccination sites have longer opening hours
• is a great time to prepare for winter

Nasty bugs and diseases spread much more easily during winter as we spend more time inside in close contact with each other. We need higher rates of immunisation to stop our whānau and communities from getting sick.

Aotearoa Immunisation Week is a great time to book vaccinations with your doctor, nurse, or healthcare provider.

Find vaccination sites on Book My Vaccine

In Aotearoa New Zealand we have a National Immunisation Schedule. This outlines the free vaccines offered to babies, tamariki, teenagers and adults and the best time to get them vaccinated. 

• 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.

View the National Immunisation Schedule

Create your child's personalised schedule

New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) information covering what a vaccine is, when to get them, which vaccines are free, how to book, planning for your appointment, and what to expect on that day and after your immunisation.

Watch NZSL immunisation information video

Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)

Aotearoa New Zealand is at a very high risk of a measles outbreak. The MMR vaccine is free for all children in NZ, and all adults born after 1969 if they're eligible for free healthcare.

Find out more about the MMR vaccine

Whooping cough (pertussis)

Whooping cough can be very serious – especially for babies under 12 months old. To protect pēpi (babies), a vaccination should be given from 16 weeks of every pregnancy. Then pēpi need 3 doses when they are 6 weeks, 3 months and 5 months old. Booster doses are also given at 4, 11, 45, and 65 years old.

Find out more about the flu vaccine

Flu (influenza) 

It’s recommended all tamariki from 6 months old and their whānau get flu vaccination every year. It’s free for tamariki aged 6 months to 12 years old, if you’re pregnant, over 65s, and for lots of other people.

Find out more about the flu vaccine

Meningococcal

Find out where you can get immunised, how to book an appointment, and what to do if your child is not enrolled with a doctor.

Contact your doctor, nurse, or healthcare provider to book a vaccination appointment. Some vaccinations are also available through pharmacies, school programmes, Māori and Pacific health providers, and vaccination events.

More information about vaccination appointments