Women's Health Action says the new school-based immunisation programme to help protect girls from cervical cancer has been brought in too fast and an urgent review is needed.
The vaccination against the human papilloma virus (HPV) - the most common cause of cervical cancer - has been offered to girls in year eight (12 years-old) at most New Zealand schools since the end of January.
However, Director of Women's Health Action Trust Jo Fitzpatrick said a number of problems were emerging with the programme and a review was needed.
"The signs are that this programme was rushed and the cracks are showing," Ms Fitzpatrick said.
"We need to slow down and do it right.'
She pointed to an announcement by the Privacy Commissioner that she would investigate complaints about schools handing over personal information to district health boards without notification as one of a number of issues.
Guidelines were developed by the Ministry of Health with the commissioner's input to support the implementation of the school-based phase of the programme, Ms Fitzpatrick said.
"We would like to see the guidelines adhered to and a system set up to ensure this. Serious questions need to be asked about why these guidelines have been ignored," she said.
"But this is only one of many problems emerging and we are calling for the programme to be delayed so we can get the fundamentals right."
The materials being used to promote the vaccination also needed to be looked at, Ms Fitzpatrick said.
"The use of `fear' and coercive tactics to promote a vaccine is unacceptable, and the reports starting to surface about the implementation of the HPV vaccination programme are very concerning."
