The Prime Minister says New Zealand is in “ongoing” talks with pharmaceutical companies about the possibility of getting Covid-19 vaccine boosters.
But, the type of boosters and when they would come remains to be seen.
Jacinda Ardern told Breakfast Monday morning the Delta variant of Covid-19 was a “game-changer”, leading to the Government to announce it had changed its vaccine strategy on Thursday .
Changes included widening the gap between Pfizer jab doses, and allowing all eligible Kiwis to book their vaccine appointments from September 1.
As for the emerging interest in booster shots , Ardern said there was “a bit of research and evidence still emerging in this space”.
“You’ve heard the WHO saying the world’s focus should be on every one being vaccinated first. Because, if you don’t have that, you continue to have variants, so that becomes a problem for all of us,” she said.
“The best way I can describe what we’re doing, without giving away anything that may compromise our position commercially, is we are keeping our talks ongoing with the pharmaceutical companies.”
Ardern said health authorities were also needing to look at whether different types of boosters were needed for different variants that may emerge in the future.
Ayesha Verrall told Q+A it has been hard to establish a threshold for reopening, but a criteria has been laid out. (Source: Other)
On Sunday, Associate Health Minister Ayesha Verrall told Q+A booster shots may not be what's required for new variants. Instead, it could require a whole new vaccine.
"We look really closely at this evidence and we’re always in close communication with our vaccine manufacturers about what our options are."
Host Jack Tame asked Verrall if the Government should order booster shots just in case. She wasn’t able to comment.
Meanwhile, the National Party’s Covid-19 spokesperson Chris Bishop said the obvious thing to do is order booster shots for next year.
National’s Covid-19 spokesperson Chris Bishop told Q+A the Opposition would give a range for a vaccine target. (Source: Other)
He said Australia had ordered millions of booster shots, and Pfizer had made it clear it was first in first served.
"We haven’t ordered a single one, and I think that’s pretty bad."
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