Police queue outside a pharmacy for their influenza injection in Christchurch, New Zealand, March 26, 2020. (PHOTO / AP)

WELLINGTON - New Zealand aims to boost childhood immunization rates by enabling community pharmacies to give some of the funded childhood vaccines.

ALSO READ: Indonesia's Marapi volcano erupts again

New Zealand's Pharmaceutical Management Agency Pharmac released a consultation on Monday, proposing to remove the "Xpharm" restriction, which currently prevents pharmacies from being able to give funded childhood vaccines, from March 1.

The capability and capacity across the wider health sector needs to be drawn to help increase options for people to access childhood immunizations in their communities, Ewe-Snow (Health New Zealand Director of Prevention) said

"Childhood immunization rates have declined in recent years and one of the biggest barriers is access to vaccinators", said Health New Zealand Director of Prevention Alana Ewe-Snow.

READ MORE: New Zealand ex-PM Jacinda Ardern weds longtime partner

Community pharmacies are a good way for people to access funded vaccines that don't have the Xpharm restriction, like the COVID-19 and flu vaccines, said Pharmac's Director of Pharmaceuticals Geraldine MacGibbon.

READ MORE: New Zealand fisherman saved by watch reflection

Health New Zealand is working with Pharmacy and General Practice, which already plays a critical role in the delivery of childhood immunizations, to discuss the removal of the Xpharm restriction and how this change will be implemented.

READ MORE: New Zealand government starts to repair economy

The capability and capacity across the wider health sector needs to be drawn to help increase options for people to access childhood immunizations in their communities, Ewe-Snow said.

A training program is currently in development to support pharmacist vaccinators who wish to upskill and offer childhood immunizations, she said.