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But Associate Professor Nikki Turner, from the University of Auckland s Immunisation Advisory Centre, says infections arriving here from overseas are something Kiwis need to get used to.
She says even though New Zealand has managed to wrangle control over COVID-19 domestically, internationally it s running rampant with more than 350,000 new cases cropping up daily - and there s no end in sight. COVID is with us internationally long-term - it s not going to go away and we won t get international eradication, Prof Turner told Newshub. New Zealand needs to recognise that unless we re going to live completely isolated, we will continue to get COVID imported from outside. And we have to think hard about how we manage those importations. Vaccination is crucial, but it s only part of a combination strategy…
20/01/2021
Watch: Dr Ashley Bloomfield with the latest on COVID-19 in New Zealand. Credits: Video - The AM Show; Image - Getty
The Government is likely weeks away from approving a COVID-19 vaccine but the Director-General of Health is assuring New Zealanders any jab used here will be safe and effective.
The Government has ruled out fast-tracking New Zealand s vaccine programme, with confirmation a rollout isn t expected until the second quarter of this year.
Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield told Newstalk ZB that medicines regulator Medsafe was on track for providing us with approval in coming weeks . They are really onto it and working very closely with their Australian counterparts.