Get your COVID-19 Vaccination

Everyone in Aotearoa New Zealand aged 5 and over can get a free COVID-19 vaccine now. You can get a booster if you are aged 16 or over.

Who can get a COVID-19 vaccine

Everyone in Aotearoa New Zealand aged 5 and over can get a free COVID-19 vaccine now. You can get a booster if you are aged 16 or over.

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If you have had COVID-19

Even if you have had COVID-19, you should still get any COVID-19 vaccinations you are eligible for.

Being infected with COVID-19 does not provide the same level of protection as vaccination. Although your antibodies will be high after an infection, we do not know how long this natural immunity will protect you.

Getting vaccinated is your best defence against COVID-19, and can help protect you against future variants.

How long to wait before getting vaccinated

It is recommend you wait 3 months after testing positive before getting any COVID-19 vaccination.

A gap of 3 months gives your immune system time to recover from the infection and get the most benefit from vaccination. Getting vaccinated sooner than 3 months might mean your immune response is not as strong.

If you are at high risk of severe illness if you do catch COVID-19 again, talk to your doctor or other specialist about when to get your next dose. You may be able to get it sooner than 3 months.

Giving COVID vaccine
Who can get a COVID-19 vaccine
Which COVID-19 vaccine you will get

Pfizer is the preferred COVID-19 vaccine for use in New Zealand.

If you are 18 years of age or older and either cannot get the Pfizer vaccine or want a different option, you can get the Novavax vaccine.

You will be given the option to choose your vaccine type when you book. The Novavax vaccine is not available at all vaccination sites.

Whichever vaccine you get, you will need 2 doses.

COVID-19 vaccines used in New Zealand

Side effects

Like all medicines, you might experience some mild side effects in the days after getting your vaccination. This is common, and a sign that your body is learning to fight the virus.

Side effects of COVID-19 vaccines

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How long to wait between your first and second dose

Pfizer vaccine

The standard gap between doses of the Pfizer vaccine is 3 weeks or more.

For children aged 5 to 11, the recommended gap between doses is 8 weeks or more. This can be shortened to a minimum of 21 days if needed — for example, if the child is starting significant immunosuppression treatment. You will need to discuss this with the child's doctor.

Novavax vaccine

The standard gap between doses of the Novavax vaccine is 3 weeks or more.

If you are immunocompromised

Some people over the age of 5 who are severely immunocompromised are eligible for a third primary dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

Third primary dose for severely immunocompromised people

Which COVID-19 vaccine you will get
Booster doses

Why you need to stay up to date with your vaccinations

Having COVID-19 does not provide the same level of immunity as getting vaccinated. We also know that your protection from the primary course of the vaccine decreases over time.

To keep your immunity levels high, stay up to date with your vaccinations — including boosters. This will lower your chances of getting very sick from COVID-19 and ending up in hospital.

Boosters provide an extra layer of protection to previous vaccination and help your immunity be stronger and last longer.

If you have had COVID-19 and are eligible for a booster, you can get it 3 months after you tested positive.

Book your booster

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Who can get a first booster

You can get a first booster if you:

  • are aged 16 or over
  • have completed your primary course of the vaccine (for most people, this is 2 doses).

If you are aged 16 or 17, you can get a Pfizer booster 6 months after your last dose.

If you are 18 or over, you can get a Pfizer booster 3 months after your last dose, or a Novavax booster 6 months after your last dose.

Who can get a second booster

You can get a second booster if you are at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19.

This includes:

  • all people aged 50 and over
  • healthcare, aged care and disability workers aged 30 and over
  • residents of aged care and disability care facilities
  • severely immunocompromised people who received a 3-dose primary course and a fourth dose as a first booster (this would be a fifth dose for these people)
  • people aged 16 and over who live with disability with significant or complex health needs or multiple comorbidities
  • people aged 16 and over with a medical condition that increases the risk of severe COVID-19 illness.

If you are eligible, you can get your second booster 6 months after your first booster.

Medical conditions that increase the risk of severe illness from COVID-19 | Ministry of Health
 

If you are not eligible for a second booster

A second booster is not yet needed by younger people who are generally healthy and do not have underlying health conditions. This includes people who are currently healthy and pregnant.

If you are not considered at risk of severe illness from COVID-19, a 2-dose primary course and a booster dose provides very good protection against severe illness from COVID-19.

Booster doses
Before you get vaccinated
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If you are getting another vaccine

If you are getting a Zostavax shingles vaccine, a 7-day gap before or after a COVID-19 vaccine is recommended.  

If you are getting the Novavax vaccine, a 3-day gap before or after a Shingrix shingles vaccine or the Fluad Quad flu vaccine is recommended.

All other vaccines may be administered before, after, or at the same time as any other COVID-19 vaccines. 

If you had your first dose in another country

If your first dose was the Pfizer vaccine

You can have your second dose in New Zealand. It will need to be at least 3 weeks after your first dose.

If your first dose was the AstraZeneca vaccine

The AstraZeneca vaccine is no longer available in New Zealand. You can get the Novavax or Pfizer vaccine for your second dose.

If your first dose was a different vaccine

At this stage, we recommend you get a dose of the Pfizer vaccine in New Zealand.

When booking, you will be asked if you have had 1 dose already, which vaccine it was, and the date it was received. Book My Vaccine will calculate when you are able to get a dose of the Pfizer vaccine.

These vaccines are not interchangeable, but you are likely to have a good response to an additional single dose of the Pfizer vaccine. This is because all the vaccines target the immune response to the same part of the COVID-19 virus.

If you have had one dose of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine, you do not need a second dose.

Boosters

The Pfizer vaccine is the main vaccine being used in New Zealand for boosters, even if you had a different vaccine for your earlier doses. If you are 16 or 17, you can only get the Pfizer booster.

If you have had an allergic reaction to any vaccine

If you have had a serious or immediate allergic reaction to any vaccine or injection in the past, discuss this with your vaccinator.

If you have a history of anaphylaxis

You should talk to your doctor about which vaccine is suitable for you if you have a history of anaphylaxis:

  • to any ingredient in the Pfizer or Novavax vaccine
  • to a previous dose of the Pfizer or Novavax vaccine.
     
If you need assistance during your appointment

When you book your vaccination, you will be asked if you require assistance during your appointment.

Assistance includes:

  • a NZ sign language interpreter
  • support to make decisions
  • assistance to move around
  • a longer appointment time
  • a quiet or low-sensory environment
  • more space to move around.

If you book online, we may need to contact you to make sure we can meet your requirements at your chosen vaccination site.

Support and information for disabled people

Before you get vaccinated
Book a COVID-19 vaccination

Book online

It is free, fast and easy to book or change your appointments using the website Book My Vaccine.

Book my vaccine

Before you book, check the appointment availability map. It can show you where vaccination sites are, how soon you can get an appointment, and which vaccine types are available.

Appointment availability map | bookmyvaccine.health.nz

If you need help

If you have problems booking or need to change your details, email booking@vaccine.covid19.health.nz

Book over the phone

The COVID-19 Vaccination Healthline is available from 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week.

You can ask for an interpreter if you need one.

Call: 0800 28 29 26

Book a COVID-19 vaccination
Walk-in and drive-through 
vaccination centres

There are many places around New Zealand where you can get a COVID-19 vaccine without an appointment.

Vaccination centres
Other ways to get vaccinated
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Make a group booking
  • Online — Choose a clinic that has multiple bookings available around the time you want to get vaccinated. Book yourself first.
  • By phone — Call the COVID Vaccination Healthline on 0800 28 29 26 (8am to 8pm, 7 days a week).
Visit your doctor or pharmacy

Your local doctor, hauora or pharmacy may also be offering COVID-19 vaccinations. To find out, call them directly or visit the Healthpoint website.

COVID-19 vaccinations — Healthpoint

Get vaccinated at home

Anyone who has difficulty leaving their home safely may be able to be vaccinated at home.

Talk to your doctor or call the COVID Vaccination Healthline on 0800 28 29 26 to discuss what options will best meet your needs.

Other ways to get vaccinated
Change or cancel an appointment

You will need your booking reference to reschedule or cancel an appointment online. If you cannot find your booking reference, you can reschedule or cancel over the phone.

You can find your booking reference in the confirmation email or text you received when you booked. Check your inbox for an email from booking@vaccine.covid19.health.nz or your phone for a text from 2328.

Cancel or change your booking online | bookmyvaccine.health.nz

Call: 0800 28 29 26

Health worker providing drive through vaccinations

Change or cancel an appointment
Find out more