Posted: 12:00pm Sat 01 May, 2021
Insufficient vaccine to roll out to 1.7m Kiwis
As of this week, more than 60,000 New Zealanders are fully vaccinated – with 232,500 individual doses given. Photo: Scott Hammond/Stuff
From this month, an additional 1.7 million Kiwis will be eligible to receive the Covid-19 vaccine, but there is only enough vaccine in the country for a few hundred thousand people.
The next group to be vaccinated is Kiwis at higher risk if they catch Covid-19 - including those over 65, people with underlying health conditions, and those in custody.
While the Government has purchased 10 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine to cover the entire population, only 685,620 doses have arrived onshore.
New Zealand is now more than two months into the vaccine roll-out, touted by Associate Health Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall this week as the 'largest medical event.... New Zealand has ever experienced”.
As of this week, 232,588 doses have been administered.
Associate Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall reminded people this week that there will be enough vaccine for everyone. Photo: Lawrence Smith/Stuff.
The Ministry of Health is 'confident” in its vaccine supplies, saying deliveries of between 49,000 and 78,000 doses are scheduled weekly.
Some passengers who flew from Brisbane to New Zealand during the week are being told to self-isolate after there was a breach at Brisbane Airport. An infected red-zone passenger and his travel companion were incorrectly led into the green-zone area during transit.
Travellers who were at two locations of interest in the international terminal on Thursday are being treated as casual plus contacts. The two locations are Hudsons Coffee between 9.23am (local time) and 11.20am, and the male toilet adjacent to gate 79 between 11.23am and 11.15am.
One bubble traveller who flew the day before the breach was 'disappointed and angry” over the incident, and said she won't feel safe in the green zone until the airport explains how this happened and ensures it won't happen again.
There was another breach of the trans-Tasman bubble, this time coming from New Zealand to Australia. It's understood a traveller who flew from Rarotonga in the Cook Islands to Auckland on Thursday caught a quarantine-free flight to Perth the following day.
The one-way bubble between the Cook Islands and New Zealand is quarantine-free but arrivals are required to stay for at least 14 days in New Zealand before transiting to another country.
Experts say these breaches - there were three in four days - shouldn't raise alarm bells, but should serve as a learning curve.
Global toll
The global number of cases has reached 150.7 million, according to Johns Hopkins University. Global deaths have now surpassed 3.17million.
The United States continues to report the highest number of infections in the world - 32.3 million - followed by India with 18.7 million. India is enduring a deadly second wave of the virus, which is a disaster not only for the country, but also the world.
In Australia, Melbourne authorities remain 'alert but not alarmed” after viral fragments of Covid-19 were found in the city's wastewater. Over 240 people were ordered to immediately get retested.
What should I do?
Anyone who wants to get tested can find their local testing centres by visiting the Ministry of Health website.
If you are sick, call your GP before you visit, or Healthline on 0800 358 5453.
To avoid contracting and spreading the virus, wash your hands properly, cough and sneeze into the crook of your elbow and throw tissues away immediately.
Reach out, find support from people who care, connect with your community or help a neighbour in need.
9 comments
mm not encouraging
Posted on 01-05-2021 13:14 | By Kancho
Think the vaccine program my well stall at some point soon beauracy moves so slowly . Just hope nothing goes wrong outbreak wise as lives will be at risk
Those in custody?
Posted on 01-05-2021 13:23 | By Ben Dover
What sort of logic is it to vaccinate 'those in custody' as a priority in front of all those other people in the queue?
I agree Ben
Posted on 01-05-2021 16:00 | By Kancho
Not happy that law abiding citizens are behind inmates in the queue for a vaccine. Surely they are already in an isolation facility so should be at a lower risk also most under 65 years old . So are they saying that over 65 years old are behind the crims . Bureaucratic nonsense
232,588 Doses
Posted on 01-05-2021 17:52 | By Bob Landy
Wow!! That’s 5% of the population. Someone in government must be doing a little dance.
@boblandy
Posted on 02-05-2021 08:15 | By Slim Shady
It’s worse than that as everyone needs 2 shots. Then they will need a booster within 12 months. The Dancing Queen can save her little jig.
Over 80s?
Posted on 02-05-2021 13:00 | By Ceem
Just been talking to a cousin in the UK who is in is 70's and has received both shots. Moreover, the UK is now vaccinating people in the lower 40's. He was staggered when I told him we don't have a clue when we are likely to be vaccinated. When I mentioned those in custody having priority...........
No justification...
Posted on 02-05-2021 13:05 | By morepork
...for criminals having priority over citizens. I agree with Ben Dover and Kancho, here. I think it is to protect facility staff more than the inmates. It is a bad call.
No vaccines?
Posted on 02-05-2021 13:08 | By morepork
I guess we can't be responsible for supply failures but why are all the eggs in one basket? Why don't we have alternative vaccines and suppliers? Has anybody thought or looked at us manufacturing vaccines here? (We could do it under license and even export a surplus...).
I've been trying to contact the
Posted on 03-05-2021 11:27 | By earlybird
vaccination centre to make an appointment. Several phone calls later I'm yet to actually get to speak to someone let alone get an appointment.
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