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Jacinda Ardern
Prime Minister
This week, we announced the next steps in our COVID-19 vaccination rollout. In case you missed the news, I wanted to send you a quick update on what it means for you and your family.
The COVID vaccine rollout is the largest and most complex vaccination programme in New Zealand’s history, and so from the outset, we put in place a comprehensive plan.
We launched our plan at the beginning of the year, prioritising those at the highest risk like our border and health workers, and we’re making good progress. Our current focus is on vaccinating people over 65, and those with underlying health conditions. More than 300,000 people have been fully vaccinated, and we’re on track to hit a million doses administered in the next few days.
Now, we’re preparing to move into the next phase. From the end of July, we will begin vaccinating the general population – that’s everyone who hasn’t yet been vaccinated.
Because we won’t receive all our vaccine supply at once, and to make it simple, we’ll be vaccinating people in age bands. We will start with older people and work down. When it’s your turn and your age band comes up, you can expect to get an invitation to book your vaccination by text, email, letter or phone.
Everyone who’s 60 or older will be invited first, and will be able to book a vaccination from 28 July.
Two weeks later we’ll invite people aged 55 or older to book. We’ll then progressively invite everyone else, age band at a time. People over 45 years should receive invitations from mid to late August, people over 35 years from mid to late September, and everyone else from October.
We’ve secured enough Pfizer vaccine for everyone in New Zealand, and by the end of the year, everyone aged 16 or over will have had the chance to be vaccinated.
We’ve landed on age bands because it’s a simple approach, successfully used overseas in places like the United Kingdom, and because the risk of COVID increases as you get older. Once your age band is announced, there is no cut off. You can be vaccinated from then on, at any time – but the sooner, the better.
I’d really encourage you to book your vaccine as soon as it’s your turn. This afternoon, I went along to the Manurewa clinic to get my first dose. The team there was really friendly, and made the whole process simple. I’ve heard similar experiences from other people who have had their vaccine, but if you do have any concerns or questions about the process or about getting your vaccine, you can find everything you need to know at covid19.govt.nz.
Getting as many people in New Zealand vaccinated as possible will ensure we retain our hard won freedoms and keep our place as one of the few countries in the world without COVID in the community.
It’s also about looking after each other and ensuring our loved ones are safe. Each of us getting vaccinated means someone we love is safer. So my final message is: do it for those you love.
That’s it from me for now, but I’ll be back in touch soon with another update on all that we’re doing to secure our COVID recovery. In the meantime, I hope you have a lovely weekend (and don’t forget to scan in with the COVID Tracer app when you’re out and about!).
Thanks,
Jacinda Ardern
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