The further and future evolution of the New Zealand Immunisation Schedule.

MeNZB was introduced to control meningococcal disease in New Zealand in 2004 and routine use ceased in 2008. In that year, two new vaccines were added to the New Zealand Childhood Immunisation Schedule, pneumococcal and human papilloma virus, and two more, varicella and rotavirus, have been recommended but not funded. By comparison, in the 16 years prior to 2006 only one new vaccine was introduced, Haemophilus influenzae type B. Coverage is improving and is now around 90%, making timeliness an important target and supplementary strategies for controlling pertussis of greater importance. A personal view of each of these vaccines is provided in this article.