Health screening and immunisation eligibility in Aotearoa New Zealand

What screening programmes and immunisations are available?

Key points about health screening eligibility

  • In Aotearoa New Zealand there are many health screening tests and immunisations available for every age and stage of your life.
  • This page covers tests that are funded by Te Whatu Ora (Ministry of Health).
  • Most (not all) are available free.
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There are 5 free screening programmes (health checks) for certain population groups living anywhere in Aotearoa New Zealand. Find out who is eligible in the section below. 

  1. Newborn Metabolic Screening Programme(external link)
  2. Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Programme(external link)
  3. Breast screening(external link)
  4. Cervical screening(external link)*
  5. Bowel screening(external link).

* Note that while the cervical screening programme itself is free, there is generally a charge for an HPV Primary Screening test to be done (see below).

Antenatal screening for Down syndrome and other conditions is also offered. It's your choice whether or not to have this screening

BreastScreen Aotearoa(external link) is available for women aged between 45 and 69 years to reduce their risk of dying of breast cancer.
National Bowel Screening Programme(external link) is for men and women in New Zealand aged 60 to 74 years.
National Cervical Screening Programme(external link) is available to all people with a cervix in New Zealand aged between 25 and 69 years. This is available free for some people, read more about who is eligible for a free screening on the cervical screening page
Newborn Metabolic Screening Programme(external link) heel prick test when your baby is around 48 hours old.
Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Programme(external link)  All babies now have access to newborn hearing screening free of charge.
Antenatal screening for Down syndrome and other conditions(external link) for women in New Zealand who are less than 20 weeks pregnant.
The Core Health Checks(external link) 12 free core contacts to check on your child's growth and development, oral health, immunisations and whānau health and wellbeing. 
The B4 School Check(external link) is a nationwide programme offering a free health and development check for 4 to 5 year-olds.

Other checks:

You can also use a free tool called My Heart Check.(external link) Read more about heart risk assessment.

Video: Do More Screening Tests Lead to Better Health? Choosing Wisely

In this video, Dr Mike Evans explains some of the pros and cons of screening programmes and the importance of considering what's best for each person based on their personalised profile. It may take a few moments to load.

Dr Mike Evans, Canada, 2015

The New Zealand National Immunisation Schedule includes a series of immunisations given at specific times. They are offered free to babies, children, adolescents and adults.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) immunisation is also free for anyone, male or female, aged 9 to 26 years inclusive.

Immunisation schedule showing ages at which specific immunisations are available

Image credit: Health Ed, Well Child Tamariki Ora Booklet, NZ

Age Disease covered

Pregnant women
  • Influenza (1 injection).
  • Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis (whooping cough) (1 injection, Tdap).
6 weeks
  • Rotavirus (oral vaccine).
  • Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Polio, Hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b (1 injection).
  • Pneumococcal (1 injection).
3 months
  • Rotavirus (oral vaccine) – second dose must be given before 25 weeks.
  • Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Polio, Hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b (1 injection).
5 months
  • Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Polio, Hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b (1 injection).
  • Pneumococcal (1 injection).
12 months
  • Measles, Mumps and Rubella (1 injection).
  • Pneumococcal (1 injection).
15 months
  • Haemophilus influenzae type b (1 injection).
  • Measles, Mumps and Rubella (1 injection).
  • Varicella (Chickenpox) (1 injection).
4 years
  • Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis and Polio (1 injection).
11 or 12 years
  • Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis (Tdap, 1 booster injection).
  • Human Papillomavirus (HPV):
    • 2 injections given at least 6 months apart for those aged 14 and under
    • 3 injections given over 6 months for those aged 15 and older.
Māori and Pasifika 55 years and over
  • Influenza (1 injection annually)
65 years
  • Zoster (shingles) (1 injection, at exactly 65 years of age only).
  • Influenza (1 injection annually at 65 years and over).

Note: you are eligible for a free Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis (Tdap) booster from the age of 45 years if required. Your healthcare provider will advise on this.

Vaccines are funded for some children and adults at high risk of some diseases if they have other medical conditions. These include vaccines for:

  • publicly funded hepatitis A
  • hepatitis B
  • haemophilus influenzae type b
  • human papillomavirus (HPV)
  • influenza
  • meningococcal disease
  • pertussis (whooping cough)
  • pneumococcal disease
  • tuberculosis
  • varicella.

For more details see funded vaccines for special groups.(external link)

COVID-19 tests and vaccinations are free in Aotearoa New Zealand and widely available. For up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination information, visit Unite against COVID-19.(external link)

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Credits: Healthify editorial team. Healthify is brought to you by Health Navigator Charitable Trust.

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