What screening programmes and immunisations are available?
In Aotearoa, there are many health screening tests and immunisations available for every age and stage of your life. Most, but not all, are available free. You can find further up-to-date information on screening and health checks at Healthify Te Puna Waiora.
What are the 5 free screening programmes?
There are 5 free screening programmes (health checks) for certain population groups living anywhere in Aotearoa New Zealand. Find out who is eligible in the section below.
- Newborn Metabolic Screening Programme
- Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Programme
- Breast screening
- Cervical screening
- Bowel screening.
* Note that while the cervical screening programme itself is free, there is generally a charge for an HPV Primary Screening test to be done.
Antenatal screening for Down syndrome and other conditions is also offered. It’s your choice whether or not to have this screening.
What health checks are available?
BreastScreen Aotearoa is available for women aged between 45 and 69 years to reduce their risk of dying of breast cancer.
National Bowel Screening Programme is for men and women in New Zealand aged 60 to 74 years.
National Cervical Screening Programme is available to all people with a cervix in New Zealand aged between 25 and 69 years. This is available free for some people, read more about who is eligible for a free screening on the cervical screening page.
Newborn Metabolic Screening Programme heel prick test when your baby is around 48 hours old.
Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Programme All babies now have access to newborn hearing screening free of charge.
Antenatal screening for Down syndrome and other conditions for wāhine who are less than 20 weeks pregnant.
The Core Health Checks 12 free core contacts to check on your child’s growth and development, oral health, immunisations and whānau health and wellbeing.
The B4 School Check is a nationwide programme offering a free health and development check for 4 to 5 year-olds.
Other checks
You can also use a free tool called My Heart Check. Read more about heart risk assessment.
Funded vaccinations
Vaccines are funded for some children and adults at high risk of some diseases if they have other medical conditions. These include vaccines for:
- publicly funded hepatitis A
- hepatitis B
- haemophilus influenzae type b
- human papillomavirus (HPV)
- influenza
- meningococcal disease
- pertussis (whooping cough)
- pneumococcal disease
- tuberculosis
- varicella.
For more details, see funded vaccines for special groups.