Kia ora, this email seeks your feedback on the COVID-19 Vaccinator role.

Your knowledge and experience is crucial to getting the next steps right.

Background and uptake

The role of COVID-19 vaccinator working under supervision (CVWUS) was created this year to support the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination programme. It’s created a pathway for a diverse range of people to become vaccinators, including kaiāwhina, kaiārahi, pharmacy technicians, health administrators and health professionals registered overseas. Information about the role can be found here.

More than 75 health providers across Aotearoa are employing COVID-19 Vaccinators (working under supervision). This includes Māori and Pacific health providers, pharmacies, DHBs and primary care sites.

We are seeing success with this role in increasing representation of Māori and Pacific peoples in the vaccinator workforce: approximately 58% of people in training or working in this role identifying as Māori or Pacific.

COVID-19 Vaccinators are a small but important part of our vaccination teams. We’re looking at where they fit in relation to other crucial health workforce roles, and how they could further support these broader teams.

Next steps

We’re keen to understand further how this role has worked in practice. We are also exploring opportunities to support the health workforce into the future by building on the role.

What to expect:

  1. A short, anonymous survey is now open, until 26 October. Employers, supervisors and COVID-19 Vaccinators can click this link to access the survey
  2. Targeted focus groups for CVWUS and Clinical Supervisors are taking place on 27th and 28th October. Invitations will be sent to providers with this workforce.  If you or someone you know is a CVWUS or Supervisor who is keen to join one of the groups, please contact vaccinatorauthorisations@health.govt.nz. We are offering a koha of a $20 grocery voucher to each participant, to acknowledge their expertise and time
  3. Opportunity to input into proposals about the future of the role.

Please share the survey with your relevant members/teams.

In the meantime, contact vaccinatorauthorisations@health.govt.nz with any feedback or questions.

Ngā mihi

Simone Bell l Senior Advisor, Engagement

COVID-19 Vaccine and Immunisation Programme

 021 318 692

Manatū Hauora l Ministry of Health 

www.moh.govt.nz