Category

Criteria Details

1

Acute illness

1A. COVID-19 Infection

• PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (within the last three months); or
• Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (within the last three months).

Note: Chronic symptoms following COVID-19 (“Long COVID”) is not a contraindication to COVID-19 vaccine but does warrant a clinical discussion with the patient regarding the benefits and risks.

1B. Acute moderate to severe (non-COVID) illness

• Documented acute moderate to severe illness (e.g. severe pneumonia); and
• advised to defer vaccination by a vaccination specialist (advice available to health care providers at IMAC, 0800IMMUNE@auckland.ac.nz).

1C. High Dose Immunosuppression

• Receiving high dose immunosuppressive treatment and vaccination would be more effective if deferred for a short period (several weeks) (e.g. vasculitis).

2

Previous reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine

2A. Significant Adverse Reaction to previous dose

• Significant adverse reaction (e.g. diagnosed anaphylaxis) attributed to a previous dose of the same COVID-19 vaccine with no other cause identified; and
• inappropriate to rechallenge with same COVID-19 vaccine; and
• no alternative appropriate COVID-19 vaccine available.

Note: An adverse reaction is considered significant for the purposes of these criteria if it:

• requires in-patient hospitalisation or prolongation of existing hospitalisation or results in persistent or significant disability/incapacity; and
• has been reported to CARM; and
• has been determined following review by, and/or on the opinion of a relevant medical specialist that the risk of vaccination is greater than the potential benefits.

3

Pre-existing condition impacting on vaccination

3A. Vaccine administration needs a supportive arrangement to meet individual care requirements

• Lead health practitioner has identified individual care requirements to support vaccine administration and the individual is unable to attend at an open access vaccination site; and
• lead health practitioner needs time to arrange a suitably supportive environment or specialised care to administer the vaccine.

3B. Pre-existing diagnosis impacting on COVID-19 vaccination

• Pre-existing diagnosis is a contra-indication to specific COVID-19 vaccine (e.g. pericarditis/myocarditis for Pfizer); and
• no alternative appropriate COVID-19 vaccine available.

3C. Terminal illness

• Life expectancy of less than six months

4

Vaccine Trials

4A. Non-Placebo participant in a vaccine trial

• Those who are verified as having two doses of the trial vaccine (i.e. non-placebo) in any approved COVID-19 vaccine trial in Aotearoa New Zealand.