Article – The Health Reformist
This is the year the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, the biggest immunisation campaign in New Zealand history. For the NZ population over 16 years old, the NZ Government has declared that by the end of 2021 the programme will be complete, for those who …
This is the year the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, the biggest immunisation campaign in New Zealand history. For the NZ population over 16 years old, the NZ Government has declared that by the end of 2021 the programme will be complete, for those who wish to be vaccinated. Inherent in this undertaking is the assumption that, by 2022, the immunisation uptake will have reached sufficient levels for population immunity to begin to take hold, substantially protecting NZ from further outbreaks. This in turn will allow New Zealand to begin to gradually open its borders. There are several factors that are putting this commitment at risk. These include a slow vaccine rollout performance, vaccine hesitancy, limited public and business sector involvement in vaccine promotion. The following are actions New Zealand must promptly take to salvage the situation.