Proposal to change the provider of national storage and distribution services for funded vaccines
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What we’re proposing
Pharmac is seeking feedback on a proposal to change the provider for national vaccine storage and distribution services. This proposal is being made following a competitive and open Request for Proposals (‘RFP”) for storage and distribution services for funded pharmaceuticals and vaccines.
Following this process, we propose that:
- DHL Supply Chain (New Zealand) Limited (“DHL”) becomes the new national provider for vaccine storage and distribution from 1 February 2026.
- Pharmacy Retailing (NZ) Limited trading as ProPharma (“ProPharma”) continues to provide regional vaccine storage and distribution services.
As part of the same RFP process, we requested proposals from suppliers for the storage and distribution of a range of community pharmaceuticals. We intend to consult on the outcome of this aspect of the RFP at a later date.
Consultation closes at 4pm Monday 22 December 2025 and feedback can be emailed to procurement@pharmac.govt.nz or via our online form.
What would the effect be?
National vaccine storage and distribution
From 1 February 2026, this service would be provided by DHL, who would become the new national vaccine services provider. Under this agreement, DHL would manage the bulk storage of vaccines until they are ordered by the regional vaccine services provider.
DHL would ensure that arriving stock is promptly moved into Cold Chain storage and that vaccines remain viable upon receipt from suppliers.
Regional vaccine storage and distribution
ProPharma is the current supplier of these services and would continue to supply vaccines to immunisation providers under the new agreement. ProPharma provides Regional Vaccines Services through six branches across New Zealand. Vaccine stock is transferred to these branches from the National Vaccines Services provider, where it is stored and distributed to licensed Immunisation Providers upon request. ProPharma monitors compliance with Cold Chain practices from dispatch at regional stores through to receipt by Immunisation Providers.
Why we’re proposing this
The current agreements for vaccine storage and distribution services have reached the end of their terms. To ensure continued delivery of these essential services, Pharmac has undertaken a competitive procurement process to identify the most suitable providers, and secure ongoing national and regional storage and distribution services for funded vaccines
Who we think be interested
- Pharmacists (Hospital and Community)
- Public Health Vaccinators
- Suppliers and wholesalers
- Prescribers
- Vaccinators and vaccinator organisations
About storage and distribution
National and regional-level vaccines storage and distribution
Pharmac is responsible for forecasting and purchasing all funded vaccines listed on the National Immunisation Schedule. We contract third-party providers to deliver vaccine storage and distribution services at both national and regional levels. We are proposing that DHL would provide the national-level service, while ProPharma would continue to deliver regional-level services.
These services are essential to maintaining a robust vaccine supply chain that supports the National Immunisation Programme. They contribute to the overall goal of reducing preventable diseases by ensuring vaccines are stored and distributed in a way that preserves their potency, supports continuity of supply, and promotes equitable accessibility for all eligible patients.
From 1 February 2026, DHL would be responsible for national storage and distribution services for funded vaccines. ProPharma would maintain its regional role, operating through six branches across New Zealand. Vaccines would be transferred from DHL’s national warehouses to ProPharma’s regional sites, where they would be stored and distributed to licensed immunisation providers upon request.
The Ministry of Health continues to manage audit and compliance for all service providers involved in vaccine storage and distribution, including cold chain compliance. DHL and ProPharma would work closely with the Ministry and its agents to uphold these quality standards.
Pharmac oversees vaccine forecasting and ordering. A 24-month forecast is provided to suppliers, with firm orders placed six months prior to delivery. These schedules are also shared with the national storage and distribution provider. Pharmac pays suppliers upon delivery and release of vaccines to the national warehouse. Vaccines remain the responsibility of suppliers until they are released following a quality assurance process.
Further details on vaccine storage and distribution standards can be found in the National Guidelines for Vaccine Storage and Transportation 2017 | Ministry of Health website(external link).
Vaccines currently included in scope
Pharmac manages the Pharmaceutical Schedule, including the listing of funded vaccines and their suppliers. These may change from time to time based on competitive processes and evolving health needs. As such, both the national and regional vaccine storage and distribution agreements include provisions to allow for changes in vaccine types and volumes.
The following funded vaccines are currently included in the scope of both national and regional-level storage and distribution services:
- Haemophilus Influenzae Type B Vaccine
- Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Vaccine
- Meningococcal B Vaccine
- Meningococcal (Groups A, C, Y and W-135) Vaccine
- Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis Vaccine
- Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis and Polio Vaccine
- Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Polio, Hepatitis B and Haemophilus Influenzae Type B Vaccine
- Hepatitis B Recombinant Vaccine – Adult
- Hepatitis B Recombinant Vaccine – Paediatric
- Hepatitis A Vaccine – Adult
- Hepatitis A Vaccine – Paediatric
- Human Papillomavirus (Types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58) Vaccine [HPV]
- Measles, Mumps & Rubella Vaccine
- Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine
- Pneumococcal (PCV13) Vaccine
- Poliomyelitis Vaccine
- Rotavirus Vaccine
- Varicella Vaccine [Chicken Pox Vaccine]
- Varicella Zoster Virus Vaccine
- Tuberculin (Mantoux Test)
To provide feedback
Send us an email: procurement@pharmac.govt.nz by 4pm Monday 22 December 2025 or through our online form.
All feedback received before the closing date will be considered by Pharmac’s Board (or its delegate) prior to making a decision on this proposal.
Your feedback may be shared
When you give feedback on a consultation, your feedback becomes official information that Pharmac holds. Pharmac has legal responsibilities for how we manage this official information, under laws such as the Official Information Act and Privacy Act.
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We will consider your views when assessing whether the feedback has to be released. Tell us if there is anything about your feedback that you would prefer wasn’t released.
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