FAQ
Who is Healthpoint?
Healthpoint is New Zealand’s largest and most recognised health and social services directory, promoting fairer access online. We also support health providers to publish COVID-19 testing facilities across New Zealand. Healthpoint is a well-used and known platform used by 100% of GPs, community pharmacies and urgent care clinics across the country. We work with hapū and iwi to publish information that is appropriate and useful for local communities.
More than 700,000 people used Healthpoint in June 2021 to find trusted health and social services information.
Why do we need a National COVID-19 Vaccination Services Directory?
An effective COVID-19 Vaccine communications strategy can engage the public and encourage people to keep themselves and others safe. Clear communication about where to get a vaccine is an important part of maintaining trust and confidence in the immunisation programme. This is important as it could affect the number of people choosing to be vaccinated.
By hosting all New Zealand’s COVID-19 vaccination information in one location, with handy interactive maps and ways to customise the information at a service level, we’re making it much easier for anyone trying to find out where their local vaccination facility is and whether they are eligible – with full confidence that this information is accurate and up to date.
Who uses the National COVID-19 Vaccination Services Directory?
The Directory is an open and trusted service that is accessible by all, and used by New Zealanders seeking information to find out where their local vaccination facility is and whether they are eligible.
The Māori COVID-19 Vaccination campaign, Karawhiua.nz streams the Healthpoint content through to their website, allowing whānau to find vaccine information and make bookings directly.
Whakarongorau Aotearoa (the National Telehealth Service – Helplines) call takers use the Directory to find COVID-19 vaccination service locations and information for callers.
How do you use the National COVID-19 Vaccination Directory?
To support local COVID-19 Vaccine communications strategy solutions, DHBs and third parties can share the vaccination service information on Healthpoint using:
- API
- Hyperlink
- iframing, or
- embedded search widget.
DHBs can link from their websites to their Hauora Māori and community vaccination facilities on Healthpoint or use the Healthpoint API to capture this data.
Initiatives to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, such as Karawhiua, will stream the Healthpoint service information into their website and help support their communities to find vaccination facilities. The Karawhiua campaign focuses on encouraging Māori to actively seek information about how to best protect their whānau from COVID-19 and to make a positive decision about whether to get vaccinated or not.
Whakarongorau Aotearoa call takers use the Healthpoint directory to find COVID-19 testing facilities, and they will use this Directory to find COVID-19 vaccination service locations.
Who keeps the Directory up-to-date?
Each independent vaccination service is responsible for keeping their information up-to- date, including location(s), eligibility criteria, and booking links.
I already have a website, do I need to be on Healthpoint?
The National COVID-19 Vaccination Service Directory is not intended to replace local websites, directories or communications plans. The Directory is designed to supplement local communication efforts and provide New Zealanders with an overarching view of all vaccination service locations, anywhere across New Zealand.
This is a good example of the health and disability sector working as a collective to save time and improve access to information. Together we are making New Zealand safer by making it easier to connect New Zealanders to vaccination facilities.
How will the National COVID-19 Vaccination Directory support Māori communities?
Healthpoint will act as the vehicle to bring together information from all vaccination service facilities – non-Māori and kaupapa Māori.
By taking a systematic approach to building up the Directory and keeping it current and comprehensive. Healthpoint’s philosophy is to work with service providers directly and build a sense of co-ownership over the platform; and we will work one to one with each Māori Health Provider or kaupapa Māori service that is delivering vaccination services. At all times, Māori will have control over their information.
The benefit of working as a collective, is that whānau will have access to ‘one source of truth’ for vaccination service facilities, and the greatest choice of vaccination services information. Together, we can provide whānau with visibility of all providers operating within their rohe.
The Karawhiua campaign focuses on encouraging Māori to actively seek information about how to best protect their whānau from COVID-19 and to make a positive decision about whether to get vaccinated or not. Karawhiua will stream the aggregated information from Healthpoint through to their website, allowing whānau to find vaccine information and make bookings directly.
Whakarongorau Aotearoa call takers will use the Healthpoint directory to find COVID-19 vaccination service locations and information for callers.
Does the Directory support other languages?
Yes. Each independent vaccination service is responsible for managing what content they present and for keeping their information up to date, including location(s), eligibility criteria, and booking links. This includes providing service information in more than one language.
Is the Directory able to support people with disabilities?
Healthpoint has completed a full accessibility audit using the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 as recommended by the New Zealand Government.
In 2020 Healthpoint completed work to improve colour contrast on some elements to improve visible focus. Healthpoint are currently undertaking further improvements which will be tested and refined in consultation with people across a wide range of disabilities such as visual, auditory, physical, speech, cognitive, language, learning, and neurological disabilities to ensure accessibility.
Where else is Healthpoint information used?
Being New Zealand’s largest health and social services directory, Healthpoint information is used by New Zealand citizens, DHBs, health and social service providers, insurance companies, and nearly 100 public and private organisations via the Healthpoint API.
Can I use Healthpoint information to support my local community needs/campaigns?
To support local COVID-19 Vaccine communications strategy solutions, DHBs and third parties can share the vaccination service information on Healthpoint using:
- API technology
- Hyperlinks to the Healthpoint website
- iframing, or
- embedded search widget.
DHBs can link from their websites to their Hauora Māori and community vaccination facilities on Healthpoint or use the Healthpoint API to capture this data.
How do I contact Healthpoint for more information or to be included?
Please contact us at info@healthpoint.co.nz
Can users provide feedback?
Yes – users can provide feedback about whether they find a service provider’s page as being useful or not.
What happens to user feedback?
All feedback is shared with the relevant service provider if it is specific to a service.
Feedback from users to help improve the platform functionality and accessibility is collected, evaluated and discussed, and where appropriate is added to Healthpoint’s ongoing system review and upgrade process.