Health Professionals

Welcome to the Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC) website for health professionals. In this site you will find information on vaccines and immunisation in New Zealand.

The Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC) is a nationwide organisation based at the School of Population Health at The University of Auckland.

Our aim is to provide New Zealanders with a local source of independent, factual information including benefits and risks regarding immunisation, and vaccine-preventable disease. The information we provide is based on international and New Zealand medical research and is supported by a large network of health professionals.

We provide a variety of products and services for consumers, health professionals, government agencies and the media to improve the understanding and quality of immunisation in New Zealand.

For questions relating to immunisation and vaccine-preventable diseases you can call us free on 0800 IMMUNE (0800 466863), weekdays 9am-4.30 pm. Or Contact Us here to ask a question by email.

The Immunisation National Workshop

All information regarding the Immunisation National Workshop and Registration form can be found below:

National Workshop Information Flyer - Download Here

National Workshop Registration Form - Download Here

Click here to view the Programme

2010 Seasonal Flu information

• MoH fax to GP's - Seasonal influenza vaccine supplies (16 Aug 10) click here
• IMAC HP notes on influenza vaccine and febrile convulsions click here. 
• A new resource for Parents/caregivers  regarding the vaccine and febrile convulsions is available from the parent's front page
• MoH GP fax regarding use of Fluvax in under fives click here.
• Influvac- instructions to measure a paediatric dose click here.
• MoH fax 26th Feb: Seasonal Flu vaccine and claiming update click here.
• IMAC resources on Multi dose vial (MDV) training pages click here.
• MoH Early Protection Immunisation Programme information pack pdf here.
• National Influenza Strategy Group (NISG) website click here

Teenage Boys and Young Men Who Lack Mumps Vaccinations Are at Risk for Reduced Fertility - 6 April 2010 A reduction in mumps vaccinations has produced a spike in infection suggests an article published in the British Journal of Urology International. » read the full story Early-Life Infections, Immunizations May Alter Childhood Asthma Risk - 6 April 2010 Combined diphtheria and tetanus (DT) immunization in the first year of life was also linked to the risk of childhood asthma in the prospective study. » read the full story Measles outbreak in Northland - 31 March 2010 Five cases of measles have been confirmed in a remote community in the Hokianga in Northland. This is a timely reminder for families to check that their children are up-to-date with their immunisations which are offered at 15 months and 4 years of age. » read the full story CDC Advisory Committee Recommends Universal Influenza - 26 March 2010 All adults should receive an annual influenza vaccine beginning next flu season (2010-2011), a US federal panel of immunization experts said today. » read the full story Child Health Watch Newsletter - March 2010 - 11 March 2010 Creating awareness of crucial child health issues For more information visit: http://www.immune.org.nz/site_resources/2010%20Resources/Child_Health_Watch_newsletter_Mar_2010.pdf Rotavirus Vaccine - 3 March 2010 A Powerful Tool to Combat Deaths from Diarrhea » read the full story Gates: $10B vaccine program could save 8.7M lives - 3 March 2010 Bill and Melinda Gates announced plans Friday to invest $10 billion in the fight against a number of illnesses including AIDS and said the record donation could save nearly nine million lives. » read the full story Who Is Jonas Salk? - 3 March 2010 Jonas Salk (October 28, 1914 – June 23, 1995) was an American medical researcher and virologist, best known for his discovery and development of the first safe and effective polio vaccine. » read the full story Survey Shows Parents Worry About Vaccines - 2 March 2010 Most Parents Vaccinate Their Kids, but Many Still Worry About Side Effects » read the full story CDC Advisory Panel Recommends Use of Newly Approved Pneumococcal Vaccine - 26 February 2010 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to recommend the use of a 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13), which provides broader protection for young children against pneumococcal diseases. » read the full story Pfizer Receives FDA Approval for Prevnar 13 - 24 February 2010 Prevention of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease in Infants and Young Children. » read the full story Over 60,000 Haitians vaccinated as part of ongoing UN-backed campaign - 24 February 2010 More than 60,000 people in earthquake-devastated Haiti have been vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus and other diseases, » read the full story Seasonal influenza vaccine available - 24 February 2010 Information can be found on the www.influenza.org.nz website. » read the full story Dutch find no link between infant deaths and vaccine - 24 February 2010 The Dutch health authority RIVM said on Tuesday the deaths of three infants last year were not related to a vaccine produced by U.S. pharmaceutical company Wyeth, now part of Pfizer. » read the full story Changing the face of cold chain - 21 February 2010 A simple and cheap way of making vaccines stable – even at tropical temperatures. Demonstrated by scientists at Oxford University and Nova Bio-Pharma Technologies. » read the full story IMAC ‘Rebuttal against Celvapan claims’ - 9 February 2010 A new IMAC resource to answer claims made by Katherine Smith against the safety and efficacy of the H1N1 vaccine, Celvapan. For more information visit: The Rebuttals to Anti Immunisation Material page. Lancet accepts MMR study 'false' - 2 February 2010 The medical journal which originally published the discredited research linking autism and MMR has now issued a full retraction of the paper. » read the full story