12 August 2025
Antenatal Immunisation – Strengthening Midwifery-Led Care
Tēnā koutou LMC midwives,
The College is pleased to share important developments that strengthen the ability of Lead Maternity Carer (LMC) midwives to offer safe, equitable, midwifery-led antenatal immunisation services across Aotearoa.
As highlighted in the article in the March edition of the College’s Midwife magazine, “Antenatal Immunisation: Growing the Midwifery Role”, the protection offered by pertussis (Tdap) and influenza vaccinations during pregnancy is lifesaving for both hapū māmā and their pēpi. Yet too many hapū māmā are missing out due to access barriers, systemic inequities, or lack of awareness. LMC midwives are ideally placed to change this.
Thanks to sustained advocacy and collaborative work across the sector, Health New Zealand ǀ Te Whatu Ora has allocated dedicated funding to enable midwives to deliver antenatal immunisations. They have contracted the Midwifery and Maternity Providers Organisation (MMPO) to implement, maintain and support a national administration and payment system for any LMC midwives who choose to provide this service.
This is a significant step forward in recognising the midwifery workforce as key providers of immunisation and enabling you to be resourced for the work you already do – and want to do
more of.
The midwifery role in relation to antenatal immunisation
Not all midwives will choose to offer vaccines directly, and that is fully supported. But every midwife plays a vital role in sharing consistent, accurate, and culturally safe information with wāhine hapū and whānau, including:
- The safety and effectiveness of antenatal immunisation
- When to receive vaccinations (e.g. Tdap from 16 weeks, flu or COVID-19 any time in pregnancy)
- Where to access vaccines (midwife, GP, pharmacy)
- How vaccination protects pēpi and pregnant women / people
LMC midwives offering immunisation during routine visits, clinics, or outreach have demonstrated higher uptake and better engagement, particularly for Māori and Pacific whānau. Midwifery-led vaccination services are not just clinically sound – they are equity-promoting, whānau-centred, and culturally responsive.
Midwives are authorised prescribers and do not need separate vaccinator credentials, however if midwives are intending to start providing antenatal immunisations, they are highly recommended to complete the IMAC elearning course, Maternal Immunisation Essentials for Midwives (4–5 hours) to
ensure that they can undertake this work safely. This course is recommended and funded for all midwives, including those not currently offering vaccinations, to support their practice.
What’s new – a system designed for LMC midwives (further detail on the MMPO website)
The MMPO has developed an administration and payment system, funded by Health New Zealand ǀ Te Whatu Ora, to make it simple, secure and efficient for eligible LMC midwives to:
- Access a training incentive payment upon completion of the IMAC Maternal Immunisation Essentials course
- Check eligibility and apply for funding for local cold chain setup (fridges, loggers, consumables)
- Access to a supply and delivery system for vaccine procurement
- Receive payments for administering antenatal vaccines (Tdap, flu, COVID-19)
- Induction to and support to use the Aotearoa Immunisation Register (AIR)
The College strongly supports this initiative. It reflects a maturing system that recognises the value of midwifery-led models and provides practical infrastructure to allow you to extend your role if you choose to.
How to get involved and next steps
If you would like to start offering antenatal vaccinations as part of your midwifery care, or are already offering immunisations, please refer to the MMPO website. The MMPO team are ready to support you through each step.
A collective step forward
This is a milestone in the recognition and support of midwives as immunisers and a chance to close the equity gap for hapū māmā and pēpi across Aotearoa.
The College is proud to support this collaborative initiative and acknowledges the work to date of the MMPO, Health New Zealand ǀ Te Whatu Ora, The Ministry of Health ǀ Manatū Hauora, regional immunisation partners, and the midwives who have already paved the way.
Ngā manaakitanga,
Alison Eddy
Chief Executive
New Zealand College of Midwives