25 May 2026
Whānau Āwhina Plunket, in partnership with Health New Zealand, is celebrating a major milestone after delivering more than 11,000 vaccinations to pēpi, tamariki and whānau across Aotearoa through its growing immunisation service.
Since the pilot began, more than 11,000 vaccinations have been administered, with 1,240 vaccinations delivered in April alone. The programme has now expanded to 24 live services across Aotearoa, including clinic-based, drop-in, weekend and in-home vaccination models designed to reduce barriers for whānau.
Approximately 70% of the whānau who received a vaccination through the programme said they were not currently enrolled at a GP clinic, highlighting the programme’s role in reaching communities who may otherwise face barriers to accessing healthcare.
Whānau Āwhina Plunket Chief Executive Fiona Kingsford says the organisation is proud to play a role in helping improve immunisation rates.
"This milestone reflects the incredible work of our teams across Aotearoa who have embraced this opportunity to expand the support we offer whānau," she says.
"We know that access can be a barrier for many families when it comes to immunisations. By offering vaccinations in spaces they already know and trust, and working alongside existing providers, we’re helping more pēpi and tamariki stay protected from preventable illness."
The service has recently expanded to also offer free MMR vaccinations for the whole family, as well as flu vaccinations for eligible pregnant people, tamariki and whānau, helping protect families during winter and making it easier for whānau to receive care in one trusted place.
The workforce supporting the programme has also grown significantly, increasing from just two authorised vaccinators at the start of the pilot to 82 authorised vaccinators nationwide, alongside a further 15 vaccinators currently in training, helping build long-term workforce capability and ensuring the service can continue to expand to meet whānau demand.
National Public Health Service National Director Dr Nick Chamberlain says the partnership with Whānau Āwhina Plunket is helping create more opportunities for families to access timely childhood immunisations across Aotearoa.
“The delivery of over 11,000 vaccinations demonstrates the value of working together across the health system to provide more immunisation options for families, which ultimately means healthier communities," says Dr Chamberlain.
“While New Zealand’s childhood immunisation rates are beginning to improve there is more work to do to protect. Currently, around 78 percent of children are fully immunised by the age of two, and the Government has set a target of 95 per cent of children (by the age of 2 years old) being fully vaccinated by 2030.
“Plunket is uniquely placed to support immunisation access through its strong community reach and trusted relationships with families."
The data shows the programme is reaching whānau across all socioeconomic communities, with immunisation clients represented across every deprivation quintile. More than two-thirds of all vaccination events were delivered to Māori, Pacific, or whānau living in the highest deprivation communities, with Māori whānau alone accounting for more than 40% of all vaccinations delivered, ensuring tamariki and whānau facing the greatest barriers to healthcare can access trusted immunisation support.
Whānau feedback to the service has remained overwhelmingly positive, with respondents to the April survey rating their overall experience an average of 4.8 out of 5. Whānau highlighted the value of receiving vaccinations in trusted, family-friendly environments, as well as the convenience of in-home, drop-in and community-based services.
"I was very happy with my immunisations today. I want to come back here for all of the immunisations from now on. It’s also so nice to have faces that know my baby around. It makes such a nice difference," said one māmā.
Image, left to right: Immunisations Services Manager Bernadette Heaphy, Head of Service Development Nat Hornyak, Project Manager Kathryn Ridgway, Clinical Leader and immuniser Keli Livingston Filipo.
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