Useful information about Covid-19 vaccinations

For the most up-to-date information about Covid-19 vaccinations in New Zealand please visit https://covid19.govt.nz/covid-19-vaccines/

Over the coming months some our Pharmacies will be offering Covid-19 Vaccinations. Check our online service booking page to find your nearest Unichem or Life Pharmacy providing Covid vaccinations. We will update this as more pharmacies start to offer this service.

The vaccine is free for everyone 16 years and over but has now provisionally been approved for use in those ages 12 - 15 years inclusive.

WHEN CAN I GET THE COVID-19 VACCINE?
The Ministry of Health have a roll-out plan starting with our most vulnerable people in the community. Check your eligibility and find out what Group you are in. You can use this Tool to find out when you can get the vaccine. Following this plan Groups 1, 2 and 3 are currently being vaccinated, but there will be enough vaccines for everyone.

WHERE CAN I GET THE COVID-19 VACCINE?

Life Pharmacy Barrington: 03 337 5527
Life Pharmacy Prices: 03 548 3867
Unichem Kamo: 09 435 0174
Unichem Buchanans: 09 435 3323
Unichem Onerahi: 09 436 0567
Unichem Pakuranga: 09 577 1237
Unichem Bairds: 09 265 4920
Unichem Mangere East: 09 222 0162
Unichem Medi-Centre: 09 838 8404
Unichem Takanini: 09 222 0303
Unichem Family Health: 07 823 0740
Unichem Jeff Whittaker: 06 877 7848
Unichem Kilbirnie: 04 387 9254
Unichem High Street: 04 569 9741
Unichem Upper Hutt: 04 528 4405
Unichem Springlands: 03 578 2271
Unichem Riccarton Clinic: 03 341 4855
Unichem Medical Corner: 03 313 8623
Unichem Alexandra: 03 448 64013

VACCINE SAFETY
Vaccines work by teaching the body’s immune system to respond quickly to infection without being exposed to the infection itself.

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is known as a ‘messenger RNA’ vaccine. These vaccines don’t use virus cells at all – instead, they contain a piece of RNA code that essentially teaches your body to recognise the virus. It can respond straight away if you get infected.

The Pfizer vaccine:

is a messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine
does not contain any live virus, or dead or deactivated virus
can't give you COVID-19
can't affect your DNA
does not contain any animal products.
IF YOU’RE GETTING ANOTHER VACCINE
For information about when you should get your flu, MMR and pregnancy vaccinations if you're also getting a COVID-19 vaccination, visit the Ministry of Health website.

Getting other vaccines — Ministry of Health

IF YOU HAVE AN UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITION
Consistently high efficacy of over 92% was observed in the clinical trials for the Pfizer vaccine across age, sex, race, ethnicity, and people with underlying medical conditions.

You can get early access to the COVID-19 vaccine if you're aged 16 years and over, and meet one or more of the following criteria:

• You have a health condition that means you are eligible for a publicly funded influenza vaccine, including pregnant people.
• You have been diagnosed with severe mental illness (which includes schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder or schizoaffective disorder, and adults currently accessing secondary and tertiary mental health and addiction services).
• You have poorly controlled or severe hypertension (hypertension is another name for high blood pressure). In this case, severe is defined as requiring 2 or more medications for control.
• You are severely obese (defined as a BMI ≥40).

IF YOU HAVE ANOTHER HEALTH CONCERN OR ARE PREGNANT
The Ministry of Health website has more advice about getting vaccinated for people who are:

• pregnant
• breastfeeding
• trying for a baby
• have a health condition
• disabled
• getting treatment
• taking medication.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding vaccine advice — Ministry of Health(external link)

CT scans and mammograms vaccine advice — Ministry of Health(external link)

Disabled people vaccine advice — Ministry of Health

IF YOU’VE HAD AN ALLERGIC REACTION TO ANY VACCINE
If you’ve 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 shouldn’t get the Pfizer vaccine if you have a history of anaphylaxis:

• to any ingredient in the Pfizer vaccine
• to a previous dose of the Pfizer vaccine.

IF YOU’RE UNDER 16
People under the age of 16 are not able to get the Pfizer vaccine at this stage. Medsafe has given provisional approval of the Pfizer vaccine for young people aged 12 to 15 years. Cabinet still needs to approve a ‘decision to use’ – their decision is expected by the end of June. Until then people aged 12 to 15 cannot receive the Pfizer vaccine. It will not be mandatory for young people to get vaccinated.