Pharmac approves access to vaccines

Pharmac's decision to widen access to the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and varicella (chickenpox) vaccinations is being welcomed by Health Minister Jonathan Coleman.

Next year from January 1, the HPV vaccine will be available to both male and females aged 26 and under, while Pharmac will also fund one dose of the varicella vaccine for all 15 month olds from July 1.


Pharmac will widen access to the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and varicella (chickenpox) vaccinations. The changes will take effect in 2017. File Photo.

Eleven year olds who haven't been exposed to chickenpox and have not been vaccinated will also be eligible for the varicella vaccine.

Jonathan says in Budget 2016, the Government invested an extra $124 million over four years to enable Pharmac to further increase access to new medicines to benefit more New Zealanders.

'The Government's extra investment gives Pharmac more options on new medicines it can fund. It's up to Pharmac to make these decisions,” says Jonathan.

Since 2008 the HPV vaccine has been free for girls and young women up to their 20th birthday.

Along with widening access to the HPV vaccine, it will also be changed from a vaccine that protects against four HPV serotypes (Gardasil) to one that covers nine (Gardasil 9).

The change increases protection against cervical cancer from 70 per cent to 90 per cent and will see the number of doses required for young people 14 and under reduced from three to just two.

Jonathan says as a result of these changes an extra 100,000 New Zealanders are expected to be immunised against these potentially serious illnesses.

'Widening access to these vaccinations will make a considerable difference to the lives of many young New Zealanders and their families.”

This is the second package Pharmac has announced following Budget 2016. It recently confirmed funding for two new hepatitis C medicines and a treatment for advanced melanoma.

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