Covid-19 vaccine booster dose reduced, self-isolation scheme for Australian arrivals delayed
Cabinet has agreed to reduce the interval between the second Pfizer dose and booster shot from six to four months, and there will be a delay in the start of the self-isolation scheme for Australian arrivals, Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins has announced.
Hipkins says Cabinet's meeting about the Omicron variant yesterday and following advice overnight meant the government had agreed to a "suite of precautionary measures".
Joining Hipkins in today's briefing is Ministry of Health Chief Science Adviser Ian Town and paediatrician Dr Danny de Lore.
Vaccine timeframes
The booster dose change means more than 82 percent (or three million) of vaccinated New Zealanders will be eligible for it by the end of February next year.
It means hard-to-reach communities will be able to get boosters before winter.
Paediatrician Dr Danny de Lore says the priority is for those on the front line and those with highest risk from severe outcomes.
Cabinet has also confirmed the roll out for paediatric doses for five to 11 year olds - which will begin from 17 January prior to school returning next year, with a focus on more hesitant and remote communities.
Vaccinations for children are a choice for parents, but Hipkins says he "can't speak strongly enough" in support of them.
Omicron and border reopening
As for the border, Cabinet has decided to push back the self-isolation date for travellers from Australia from 17 January to the end of February.
Hipkins acknowledges that decision will disappoint people, but says it will allow more time for the roll out of boosters.
"Public health advice suggests that soon every case coming into our border, into our managed isolation facilities, will be the Omicron variant."
Another change will be that the requirement for travellers to New Zealand return a negative test within 72 hours of departure will be reduced to 48 hours of departure.
Traffic light settings will remain as they are. To slow the spread of Omicron, when it arrives, the government may use the red setting of the traffic light setting early on.
Hipkins says it is not the intention of the government to use a lockdown unless in extreme situations. Even if one were to be introduced, it would be very targeted.
"Omicron has changed the dynamic again. When it does arrive we expect that it will spread fast, and that's what we're seeing in other places.
"So to slow that spread we may use that red traffic light setting earlier on in order to try and slow that spread. That'll give us the best chance of minimising the chances that we'd need to return to something more restrictive.
"It's not our intention to move to lockdowns unless that is absolutely necessary in the event of a widespread outbreak where our health system becomes under considerable strain and the overall health risk becomes too much to bear. Even then, our strong preference would be for any lockdowns to be highly targeted."
Omicron is now in more than 72 countries around the world.
There are a total of 22 cases with the Omicron variant in the country. All remain in managed isolation with the exception of one case who has recovered.
Cabinet has agreed to reduce the interval between the second Pfizer dose and booster shot from six to four months, and there will be a delay in the start of the self-isolation scheme for Australian arrivals, Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins has announced.
Hipkins says Cabinet's meeting...
Cabinet has agreed to reduce the interval between the second Pfizer dose and booster shot from six to four months, and there will be a delay in the start of the self-isolation scheme for Australian arrivals, Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins has announced.
Hipkins says Cabinet's meeting about the Omicron variant yesterday and following advice overnight meant the government had agreed to a "suite of precautionary measures".
Joining Hipkins in today's briefing is Ministry of Health Chief Science Adviser Ian Town and paediatrician Dr Danny de Lore.
Vaccine timeframes
The booster dose change means more than 82 percent (or three million) of vaccinated New Zealanders will be eligible for it by the end of February next year.
It means hard-to-reach communities will be able to get boosters before winter.
Paediatrician Dr Danny de Lore says the priority is for those on the front line and those with highest risk from severe outcomes.
Cabinet has also confirmed the roll out for paediatric doses for five to 11 year olds - which will begin from 17 January prior to school returning next year, with a focus on more hesitant and remote communities.
Vaccinations for children are a choice for parents, but Hipkins says he "can't speak strongly enough" in support of them.
Omicron and border reopening
As for the border, Cabinet has decided to push back the self-isolation date for travellers from Australia from 17 January to the end of February.
Hipkins acknowledges that decision will disappoint people, but says it will allow more time for the roll out of boosters.
"Public health advice suggests that soon every case coming into our border, into our managed isolation facilities, will be the Omicron variant."
Another change will be that the requirement for travellers to New Zealand return a negative test within 72 hours of departure will be reduced to 48 hours of departure.
Traffic light settings will remain as they are. To slow the spread of Omicron, when it arrives, the government may use the red setting of the traffic light setting early on.
Hipkins says it is not the intention of the government to use a lockdown unless in extreme situations. Even if one were to be introduced, it would be very targeted.
"Omicron has changed the dynamic again. When it does arrive we expect that it will spread fast, and that's what we're seeing in other places.
"So to slow that spread we may use that red traffic light setting earlier on in order to try and slow that spread. That'll give us the best chance of minimising the chances that we'd need to return to something more restrictive.
"It's not our intention to move to lockdowns unless that is absolutely necessary in the event of a widespread outbreak where our health system becomes under considerable strain and the overall health risk becomes too much to bear. Even then, our strong preference would be for any lockdowns to be highly targeted."
Omicron is now in more than 72 countries around the world.
There are a total of 22 cases with the Omicron variant in the country. All remain in managed isolation with the exception of one case who has recovered.
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