Pharmac has confirmed it will widen access to HPV vaccines to young men, and chickenpox vaccines to babies and children.

The Government has invested an extra $124 million over four years to enable Pharmac to further increase access top medicines.

That has allowed Pharmac to extend the human papillomavirus vaccine from next year to all men and men under 26 years of age, and use a more powerful vaccine.

It will also fund one dose of the varicella vaccine for all 15-month-olds, and any 11-year-olds who haven't been exposed to chickenpox or vaccinated against it.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman said in total an extra 100,000 people will be immunised against the potentially serious illnesses.