Skip to main content

What process, if any, has been or would be used by Health NZ, Pharmac or the Ministry of Health to change the recommended number of HPV vaccine doses for 15 year olds and older? and 4 other questions

Answered 5 questions (2026)
Questions published
Reply lodged
Bookmark

Asked by

Ayesha Verrall

List MP · Labour Party

Questions

  • 19121

    What process, if any, has been or would be used by Health NZ, Pharmac or the Ministry of Health to change the recommended number of HPV vaccine doses for 15 year olds and older?

  • 19122

    Has any preliminary work been undertaken by Health NZ, Ministry of Health, or Pharmac to assess if the recommended number of HPV vaccine doses can be reduced from two to one for 9 to 14 year olds, if so when?

  • 19123

    What process, if any, has been or would be used to change the recommended number of HPV vaccine doses for 9 to 14 year olds from two to one?

  • 19124

    Has a decision been taken to reduce the recommended number of doses of HPV vaccine for 15 year olds and older, if so, to what and on what date?

  • 19125

    Has a decision been taken to reduce the recommended number of doses of HPV vaccine for 9 to 14 years old from 2 to 1, if so on what date?

Answered by

Hon Simeon Brown

Member for Pakuranga · National Party · Minister of Health

Answer

I am advised that under the Medicines Act 1981, any change to the approved indications for a medicine, including the number of doses of a vaccine, requires a manufacturer to apply for approval from Medsafe. Under the Medical Products Bill, the Government intends to better enable flexibility in community vaccination, where this aligns with safe practice.