Decision to award Principal Supply for COVID-19 vaccine

Medicines COVID-19 Decision

What we’re doing

We're pleased to announce we have entered into a new supply agreement for the COVID-19 vaccine following a competitive procurement process for the supply of COVID-19 vaccines in New Zealand.

This proposal would result in continued supply of the COVID-19 vaccine. Pfizer’s brand of COVID-19 vaccine (brand name Comirnaty) has been awarded principal supply status (PSS). This means the Comirnaty brand will be the principal funded brand of COVID-19 vaccine from 1 February 2026 to 30 September 2027. Pharmac has the option to extend the PSS period for two consecutive 12-month periods, to 30 September 2028 and 30 September 2029.

The following presentations will be funded:

  • infant multi-dose vial (MDV)
  • paediatric single-dose vial (SDV)
  • adult prefilled syringe (PFS).

This decision will result in the listing of a prefilled syringe (PFS) for adults which has not previously been available. We understand prefilled syringes are more convenient for vaccinators to use. 

Exceptional circumstances

We understand that Comirnaty may not be suitable for everyone. This decision allows people to potentially access a different brand if their prescriber considers Comirnaty to be clinically unsuitable for their health needs, for example people who have hypersensitivity to any components of the vaccine.

While there are currently no other COVID-19 vaccines available in New Zealand, if an alternative vaccine became available we would manage the funding of this via Pharmac’s Exceptional Circumstances framework. This would require an individual’s prescriber to provide information about why the funded brand (Comirnaty) is not clinically appropriate.

Any changes to the original proposal?

This decision was subject to a consultation letter dated 21 May 2025.

We received consultation responses from groups including clinicians requesting widened access for at risk and immunocompromised children, and clarification of additional dose eligibility for at risk or immunocompromised people aged 12-29 years.

Some changes to the proposal have been made as a result of this feedback. These changes are as follows:

  • Widening access for children from 6 months to 11 years of age who are severely immunocompromised or at high risk of severe disease to be able to receive additional doses every 6 months, or 12 months, respectively.
  • Clarifying that people aged 12 to 29 years who are severely immunocompromised or at high risk of severe illness would be eligible for an additional dose every 6 months, providing ongoing protection when the vaccine strain is updated.

Who we think will be most interested

  • People and carers of people who are eligible for funded COVID-19 vaccine
  • Primary health care professionals and vaccine administrators, who administer and help people access COVID-19 vaccines
  • Health care providers who work with immunocompromised children
  • Health NZ and the National Public Health Service
  • The Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC)
  • The Ministry of Health
  • Rest homes, private hospitals, dementia units, and other places that care for our elderly
  • Primary Health care Organisations (PHOs)
  • Māori and Pacific health care providers

About COVID-19 and the vaccine

COVID-19 is a highly contagious disease, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which initially affects the lungs and airways but can affect other organ systems. Some people with COVID-19 can become very unwell. They may need to go hospital and/or be admitted to an Intensive Care Unit because their lungs can stop working.

People vaccinated against COVID-19 are less likely to become very ill when infected with COVID-19. While the two- or three-dose primary course provides some protection against severe disease, this protection decreases over time. Booster doses of vaccine every six or twelve months reduces the chance of serious illness by boosting people’s immunity against the disease.

Detail about this decision

From 1 February 2026, the Comirnaty vaccine will continue to be listed in Section I and Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule as outlined below. This will be updated as required when new strains are available.

Chemical

Formulation

Brand

Pack size

Price*

COVID-19 vaccine

Inj 3 mcg bretovameran per 0.3 ml, 0.48 ml vial; infant vaccine, yellow cap

Comirnaty Omicron (JN.1)

10

$0.00

COVID-19 vaccine

Inj 10 mcg bretovameran per 0.3 ml, 0.48 ml vial; paediatric vaccine, light blue cap

Comirnaty Omicron (JN.1)

10

$0.00

*Vaccine prices are listed with zero cost in the Pharmaceutical Schedule, as they are distributed free of charge to vaccinators.

From 1 February 2026, a new presentation of the Comirnaty vaccine will be listed in Section I and Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule as outlined below. A single-dose glass pre-filled syringe presentation for adults will be listed. The single dose vial (SDV) presentation will no longer be available.

Chemical

Formulation

Brand

Pack size

Price*

COVID-19 vaccine

Inj 30 mcg bretovameran per 0.3 ml, prefilled syringe; adult vaccine

Comirnaty

Omicron (JN.1)

10

$0.00

*Vaccine prices are listed with zero cost in the Pharmaceutical Schedule, as they are distributed free of charge to vaccinators.

The following changes will occur to the eligibility criteria in Section I and Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule.

Section I changes

Infant vaccine, yellow cap

The following change will apply to the COVID-19 vaccine inj 3 mcg bretovameran per 0.3 ml, 0.48 ml vial; infant vaccine, yellow cap in Section I of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 February 2026 as outlined below (additions in bold, deletions in strikethrough):

Any of the following:

  1. Up to three doses for previously unvaccinated children aged 6 months - 4 years at high risk of severe illness or highly immunocompromised; or
  2. One additional dose with the most current variant-matched vaccine every 6 months for highly immunocompromised children aged 6 months to 4 years; or
  3. One additional dose with the most current variant-matched vaccine every 12 months for children aged 6 months to 4 years old at high risk of severe illness.

Paediatric vaccine, light blue cap

The following change will apply to the COVID-19 vaccine inj 10 mcg bretovameran per 0.3 ml, 0.48 ml vial; paediatric vaccine, light blue cap in Section I of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 February 2026 as outlined below (additions in bold, deletions in strikethrough):

Either: Any of the following:

  1. One dose for previously unvaccinated children aged 5–11 years old; or
  2. Up to three doses for immunocompromised children aged 5-11 years old; or
  3. One additional dose with the most current variant-matched vaccine every 6 months for highly immunocompromised children aged 5 to 11 years; or
  4. One additional dose with the most current variant-matched vaccine up to every 12 months for children aged 5 to 11 years old at high risk of severe illness.

Adult vaccine, prefilled syringe

The COVID-19 vaccine inj 30 mcg bretovameran per 0.3 ml, prefilled syringe; adult vaccine will be listed in Section I of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 February 2026 as outlined below:

Any of the following:

  1. One dose for previously unvaccinated people aged 12-15 years and over 30 years old; or
  2. Two doses for previously unvaccinated people aged 16-29 years old; or
  3. Up to three doses for previously unvaccinated immunocompromised people from 12 years old; or
  4. Up to four doses for people at risk of severe illness aged from 12-29 years; or
  5. One additional dose with the most current variant-matched vaccine every 6 months, any of the following criteria:
    1. Previously vaccinated people aged 30 years and over; or
    2. Previously vaccinated immunocompromised people from 12 years; or
    3. Previously vaccinated people at high-risk from 12 years

Section H (Hospital Medicines List) changes

Infant vaccine, yellow cap

The hospital restriction criteria for COVID-19 vaccine inj 3 mcg bretovameran per 0.3 ml, 0.48 ml vial; infant vaccine, yellow cap in Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 February 2026 will be as outlined as below (additions in bold, deletions in strikethrough):

Restricted

Initiation – initial dose

Up to three doses for previously unvaccinated children aged 6 months – 4 years at high risk of severe illness or highly immunocompromised.

Continuation – additional dose

Either:

  1. One additional dose with the most current variant-matched vaccine every 6 months for highly immunocompromised children aged 6 months to 4 years; or
  2. One additional dose with the most current variant-matched vaccine every 12 months for children aged 6 months to 4 years old at high risk of severe illness.

Paediatric vaccine, light blue cap

The hospital restriction criteria for COVID-19 vaccine inj 10 mcg bretovameran per 0.3 ml, 0.48 ml vial; paediatric vaccine, light blue cap in Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 February 2026 will be outlined as below (additions in bold, deletions in strikethrough):

Restricted

Initiation – initial dose

Either:

  1. One dose for previously unvaccinated children aged 5-11 years old; or
  2. Up to three doses for immunocompromised children aged 5-11 years old.

Continuation – additional dose

Either:

  1. One additional dose with the most current variant-matched vaccine every 6 months for highly immunocompromised children aged 5 to 11 years old; or
  2. One additional dose with the most current variant-matched vaccine up to every 12 months for children aged 5 to 11 years old at high-risk of severe illness.

Adult vaccine, prefilled syringe

The following hospital restriction criteria to COVID-19 vaccine inj 30 mcg bretovameran per 0.3 ml, prefilled syringe; adult vaccine in Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 February 2026 will be outlined as below:

Restricted

Initiation – initial dose

Any of the following:

  1. One dose for previously unvaccinated people aged 12-15 years and over 30 years old; or
  2. Two doses for previously unvaccinated people aged 16-29 years old; or
  3. Up to three doses for previously unvaccinated immunocompromised people from 12 years old; or
  4. Up to four doses for people at risk of severe illness aged from 12-29 years.

Continuation – additional dose

Both:

  1. One additional dose with the most current variant-matched vaccine every 6 months, additional dose to be given at least 6 months after last dose; and
  2. Any of the following:
    1. Previously vaccinated people aged 30 years and over; or
    2. Previously vaccinated immunocompromised people from 12 years; or
    3. Previously vaccinated people at high-risk of severe illness from 12 years.

Supply and price arrangements

Principal Supply Status (PSS) will be applied to Comirnaty beginning 1 February 2026 and ending on 30 September 2027. Pharmac will have the option to extend the PSS period for two consecutive 12-month periods to 30 September 2028, and 30 September 2029.

This means Comirnaty will be the principal funded brand of COVID-19 vaccine available in New Zealand and will be guaranteed at least 95% of each of the following funded markets.

  • Eligible children aged 6 months to 11 years, and
  • Eligible people aged 12 years and older.

Funding for any alternative brand will require Pharmac approval via our Exceptional Circumstances Framework(external link).

A confidential net price will apply to all presentations of Comirnaty.

Distribution arrangements

There will be no change to the existing storage and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines as part of this proposal. COVID-19 vaccines are currently distributed differently to most other vaccines and pharmaceuticals. COVID-19 vaccine will be listed with the “Xpharm” restriction with a $0.00 subsidy. An Xpharm listing means that pharmacies cannot claim subsidy because Pharmac has made alternative distribution arrangements. Pharmacies use a different claiming process for COVID-19 vaccines.

Our response to what you told us

We’re really grateful for the time people took to respond to this consultation. A summary of the main themes raised in the feedback and our responses to these are outlined below:

Theme

Pharmac staff Comment

Supportive - additional considerations

Health sector respondents were supportive of the proposal

We are pleased to be able to progress a proposal to secure ongoing supply of COVID-19 vaccines.

Health sector respondents noted that there is no current process for people to purchase COVID-19 vaccines if they do not meet eligibility criteria. Respondents considered that this leaves some groups at risk.

While Pharmac is unable to require suppliers to support a private market for vaccines, we have requested that Pfizer give consideration to establishing a private market supply for people who do not meet eligibility criteria.

The current COVID-19 vaccine eligibility criteria are based on expert advice. Pharmac staff also note that widening the eligibility criteria for additional doses for at risk and immunocompromised children that was suggested as part of the consult feedback would allow additional at-risk groups to access the vaccine if required.

Clinical stakeholders requested that the Pharmaceutical Schedule be updated to include new variant vaccines as they become available.

Clinical respondents requested that funding arrangements allow for consideration of COVID-19 combination vaccines when they become available.

We will work with the supplier to make vaccines with updated strains available in New Zealand, in accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations.

COVID-19 and influenza combination vaccines are in development. The agreement with Pfizer is for two years, with two additional one-year rights of renewal at Pharmac’s discretion. This flexibility allows us the option of running another procurement process in the next two to four years, if combination vaccines became available. At this stage our intention is that any such listing would be alongside the individual vaccines.

Support for pre-filled syringe

Pharmacist vaccinator respondents were supportive of the new pre-filled syringe presentation.

We acknowledge the support of vaccinators for the proposed new pre-filled syringe presentation. We understand this would help to support the ease of administration of the COVID-19 vaccine for vaccinators across NZ.

Safety concerns

Individuals’ responses raised safety concerns about COVID-19 vaccines as well as mRNA vaccine technology.

We acknowledge that there is a lot of public interest in the safety of COVID-19 vaccines and their use in the context of a global pandemic. The Comirnaty brand of COVID-19 vaccine, funded by Pharmac, has been approved by Medsafe as meeting New Zealand and international standards of safety and effectiveness.

We have shared this feedback with the Ministry of Health.

Efficacy concerns

Individuals’ responses raised concerns about the protection offered by the vaccine against COVID-19, the vaccine spreading COVID-19, and whether the vaccine provides protection against the newer strains.

We acknowledge that there is a lot of public interest in the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines. The Comirnaty brand of COVID-19 vaccine, funded by Pharmac, has been approved by Medsafe as meeting New Zealand and international standards of safety and effectiveness.

The WHO makes recommendations for updated COVID-19 vaccines to protect against the COVID-19 strains that are most likely to circulate in each year. The agreement with Pfizer allows for regular strain updates so that the vaccine used in New Zealand would be in line with the WHO recommendations.

Although the virus continues to evolve into new strains, the updated vaccines continue to provide protection against hospitalisation and death.

We have shared this feedback with the Ministry of Health.

Support for Novavax vaccine

Some individuals’ responses considered that the Novavax vaccine should be provided as an option for those people who are unable to have an mRNA vaccine.

Some individuals’ responses considered that the Novavax vaccine provides broader strain protection, lasts longer, and is better tolerated.

Currently, the only COVID-19 vaccine available in New Zealand is Pfizer’s Comirnaty brand mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. The Novavax vaccine was previously available in New Zealand. However, in July 2024 Novavax withdrew its application for approval of its latest vaccine. Therefore, the Novavax vaccine is currently unavailable in New Zealand. If a non-mRNA vaccine became available in New Zealand, we could consider funding for people who cannot receive an mRNA vaccine for clinical reasons, through our Exceptional Circumstances Framework.

The Novavax vaccine was only available in New Zealand in its original (“ancestral”) formulation. No updated versions were approved by Medsafe. The Pfizer Comirnaty brand of vaccine has been updated several times to match the strains circulating in New Zealand. The agreement with Pfizer allows for updates to the COVID-19 strain in line with WHO recommendations.

International comparisons

Several individuals’ responses commented on the different COVID-19 vaccine options or eligibility available in other countries. This included both widening and narrowing eligibility.

Currently, the Comirnaty brand of COVID-19 vaccine is the only COVID-19 vaccine available in New Zealand. The eligibility criteria are informed by clinical advice we received. We received advice from the Immunisation Advisory Committee to ensure vaccine use is targeted to those with the highest health need.

We would welcome a funding application or further information to support consideration of wider access to COVID-19 vaccines if there is information/published evidence that has not previously been considered by the Immunisation Advisory Committee. Full details about the clinical advice we have received is available from November 2023 and March 2024.

Record of the November 2023 Immunisation Advisory Committee meeting [PDF, 425 KB]

Record of the March 2024 Immunisation Advisory Committee meeting [PDF, 373 KB]

Information on how to make a funding application is available on our website. Anyone can make an application to Pharmac at any time.

Opposed to funding of COVID-19 vaccines

Some individuals’ responses raised objections to COVID-19 vaccines being funded by Pharmac and would prefer the money to be spent elsewhere in the health sector.

The purchase of COVID-19 vaccines was previously under an Advance Purchase Agreement. This was put in place in response to the pandemic to ensure supply of COVID-19 vaccines for New Zealand. Pharmac is now responsible for funding COVID-19 vaccines. The Immunisation Advisory Committee have told us that there is still a clinical need to continue funding COVID‑19 vaccines.

Eligibility criteria

There were several suggestions for either widened eligibility or narrowed eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine. Specific requests were as follows:

  • Widened eligibility - under 12yrs at risk/severely immunocompromised to have additional doses
  • Narrowing eligibility - for certain groups to align with overseas eligibility and concerns over safety, including pregnant people, healthy people aged 18 years and under, and reducing booster frequency from every 6 to every 12 months

We received consultation responses from groups, including clinicians, requesting widened access to additional doses for at risk and immunocompromised children aged under 12 years. Previous Ministry of Health criteria had allowed access for these groups and so this would mean reinstating eligibility. As a result of this feedback and the clinical advice we received, we propose to amend the eligibility criteria to include additional doses for at risk and severely immunocompromised children. 

We received many responses requesting that we restrict access. Making funded vaccine available for a wider group allows patients and clinicians to determine the most appropriate approach for each individual.

Transparency and public trust issues

Some individuals’ responses raised concerns with transparency and trust, particularly around Government decision making and the Pharmac procurement process

Consideration of Government decisions made during the pandemic is out of the scope of this funding decision.

As a Crown Entity, Pharmac’s role within the New Zealand health system is to make decisions on which medicines and related products are funded for the best health outcomes from within the available funding.

As a Crown Entity, Pharmac’s procurement processes, including this RFP, must align with the New Zealand Government Procurement Rules. These Rules set the expected standards for procurement, ensuring that all processes are robust, fair, and transparent.

Personal Experience

Many respondents shared personal accounts of their individual experiences as part of the consultation feedback

We would like to thank everyone for sharing their personal experiences and we appreciate how difficult it can be to share them.

We encourage people to speak with their healthcare professional if they continue to have concerns regarding COVID-19 vaccination.

If you have any questions about this decision, you can email us at enquiry@pharmac.govt.nz; or call our toll free number (9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday) on 0800 660 050.