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Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the first batch of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine will arrive in New Zealand next week.
See the press conference here:
Ardern and senior ministers have given a briefing on the country’s coronavirus vaccination program.
“We should be in a position, as long as everything goes well, to start vaccinating border workers starting next Saturday,” Ardern said.
Over the next two to three weeks, 12,000 workers should be vaccinated. Your household contacts will be the next priority, followed by healthcare and essential workers, along with most at-risk groups.
“It’s going to take the whole year to vaccinate everyone,” Ardern said.
Deliveries are expected weekly, with a batch of tens of thousands delivered within the first shipment.
Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said the first batch would be enough to cover all border workers.
Most of the freezers needed to store the vaccine are located in Auckland, and some are located in Christchurch. There is enough space in the freezers to store all the ordered batches, he said.
On Wednesday, it was announced that New Zealand authorities had given formal approval for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which will be administered to those aged 16 and over once stocks arrive in the country. The clearance from cabinet ministers came after Medsafe gave provisional approval to the vaccine last week.
Hipkins said border workers would be vaccinated at their workplaces and their domestic contacts would be asked to come to a dedicated location to receive their blows.
Health Director General Ashley Bloomfield said the vaccine comes in vials that can hold up to six doses. Vaccinators must be trained for this specific vaccine because of this.
The prime minister said she hoped there would be a very good acceptance of the vaccine among border workers. Those who were reluctant to receive the vaccine may be moved to another position that removed them from the front line, he said.
“This is a really important milestone, but it is just that, one of many we will have this year,” Ardern said.
He said the government was working on issues to provide similar levels of vaccination in the Pacific while providing protection in New Zealand.
