New Zealand and Australia received their first batches of Covid-19 vaccines manufactured by Pfizer, their leaders said Monday.
The New Zealand shipment includes 60,000 doses, which should be enough to control its “front-line workforce over the coming weeks,” said Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Vaccines will continue to arrive in small increments.
The office of Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the country had received more than 142,000 doses, 80,000 of which will be released from 22 February. and health workers.
“The vaccine has landed and we are stepping up our fight against the pandemic,” he said.
Australia also got 53.8 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine and 51 million doses of the Novavax vaccine, although these two have not been approved by regulators.
The first border staff in New Zealand: Ardern said authorities hope to start offering vaccines to border personnel and those working in quarantine or isolation facilities as of Saturday.
Throughout the week, the vaccine quality assurance will be tested and, once the safety check is completed, doses will be released to begin the first phase of the vaccination program.
“We hope to vaccinate all border workers in a period of two to three weeks followed by their family contacts,” Ardern said.
The wider population will be vaccinated in the second half of the year due to supply constraints.
Ardern said New Zealand has bought enough vaccines to cover all residents free of charge, regardless of visa status.