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 Pressure has been mounting on Ardern to start vaccinations for the
country's 5 million people to take advantage of its rare position of
having virtually eliminated the virus domestically.
"Last year we indicated the vaccine would arrive in quarter two, and
earlier this year we updated that to quarter one," Ardern told
reporters. "It's pleasing to be receiving doses this early in
quarter one."
Both New Zealand and neighbouring Australia have formally approved
the vaccine jointly developed by U.S. drugmaker Pfizer Inc and
Germany's BioNTech. Australia has said it expects to begin
inoculations by the end of this month, without giving a specific
date.
However, Ardern said the vaccination programs would have no
immediate impact on a stalled trans-Tasman travel "bubble".
Australia and New Zealand had hoped to allow bilateral travel by the
end of March, but fresh coronavirus outbreaks in Australia have
stalled those plans.
Ardern said border restrictions could be eased if there was evidence
that vaccines reduce transmission.
"That will be a significant step-change if we see that evidence
emerge and I’m sure that will make a difference to travel in the
world," she said. "But at this stage, it won’t necessarily make a
difference."
[to top of second column] |
 Ardern said New Zealand's
approximate 12,000 border workers would be the
first to be vaccinated, followed by their
household contacts. Healthcare workers and
high-risk people like the elderly would be next,
before vaccinations for the wider population
start in the second half of the year.
"We have pre-purchased enough vaccines to cover
all New Zealanders and to do so for free, and
the Pacific as well," she said.
New Zealand's medicines regulator is also in
talks with AstraZeneca, Novavax and Janssen
Biotech regarding approval for their COVID-19
vaccines.
(This story corrects date in lede to Friday)
(Reporting by Praveen Menon in Wellington and
Renju Jose in Sydney; Editing by Leslie Adler,
Marguerita Choy and Jane Wardell)
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