BRIEF—PHARMAC to fund zoster vaccine

New Zealand’s Pharmaceutical Management Agency PHARMAC has announce the approval of an agreement with Merck Sharpe & Dohme Limited, the local subsidiary of US pharma giant Merck & Co, to fund the zoster vaccine Zostavax for the prevention of shingles (herpes zoster) from April 1, 2018.

Zoster vaccine will be listed in Section I (National Immunisation Schedule) and in Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule for people aged 65 years, with a two-year catch up program for people aged between 66 and 80 years inclusive.

Zostavax would be listed in Section I (National Immunisation Schedule) and Part II of Section H of the Pharmaceutical Schedule from April 1, 2018 at the following price and subsidy (ex-manufacturer, excluding GST):

A confidential discount on the manufacturer’s price will apply to Zostavax, reducing the net price to the Funder. Subsidy and delisting protection will apply until 30 June 2021.