And after getting the jab people will have to be observed for 30 minutes - like many other vaccines - and be aware there could be side effects like fever, muscle pain and fatigue.
Border workers like nurses, security staff, customs and border officials, airline staff and hotel workers and their households will be the first vaccinated when the first batch arrives by the end of next month.
The Government still doesn't have a firm date for when the Pfizer vaccines are set to arrive but health boards have been warned to "be ready". Photo / AP
Hipkins will answer questions about which other population groups will be prioritised at today's press conference in the Beehive with Bloomfield.
The Pfizer vaccine was approved by Medsafe last week and the Health Ministry then gave relevant ministers "decision to use" advice.
Hipkins described the final Government approval as a "crucial stage" and meant the Government could "start having a conversation with New Zealanders" about the vaccine roll-out.
The Government is renegotiating managed isolation contracts with hotels. Photo / file
Information campaigns will start next week, which will address "natural questions".
"All these steps can provide further assurances to the New Zealand public that this vaccine is safe to use," Hipkins said.
"While vaccination of our border and other frontline workers takes place, we will continue to receive advice from officials on the other vaccines in our portfolio. Medsafe is in regular conversations with AstraZeneca and Janssen and has begun engagement with Novavax. A similar rigorous approval process is being followed."
Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield and Covid Response Minister Chris Hipkins deliver the latest update on the pandemic in New Zealand. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Final checks on the seven ultra-low freezers in Auckland will be completed at the end of the week. Checks on the two in the South Island should be completed by the end of the month.
As well special containers have been bought to move the vaccine, which needs to be kept at -70C, around the country.
As well, 1800 people have volunteered to learn how to administer the vaccine. The Government estimates it needs another 2000 to 3000 health staff for the vaccine campaign.
The technical advisory group this morning advised Bloomfield there was "nothing out of the ordinary" about the reactions to the AstraZeneca vaccine compared with other vaccines and described the reactions as "mild to moderate".
"The rates are very much in line with other vaccines," Bloomfield said.
Vaccine scams
Hipkins said the Government was working to "actively combat" scammers taking advantage of people and tricking Kiwis into handing over personal and financial information.
He said there were examples overseas of scammers taking advantage of people.
The vaccine will be free and at no point will you be asked to pay to reserve your place in the queue.
As well special containers have been purchased to move the Pfizer vaccine - which needs to be kept at -70C - around the country. Photo / AP
All information will come from the Ministry of Health or another trusted government agency - and if you're asked by a different site, assume it's a scam, said Hipkins.
The Government has received messages from Facebook and Google that they will remove misinformation and scams from their sites.
Will children be able to get a jab later?
The vaccine has not been approved for children and rangatahi under 16 years old because it wasn't trialled in that age group.
The Government said this decision could be reconsidered if more information became available.
And people receiving specific therapies should not receive the vaccine - pembrolizumab (Keytruda), nivolumab (Opdivo), ipilimumab (Yervoy) and atezolizumab (Tecentriq).
Green MP's travel
Hipkins said he didn't know Green MP Ricardo Menendez March's reasons for leaving the country and said he was notified about his return to New Zealand but didn't involve himself in that decision. That was left to the chief executive of MBIE.
Green MP Ricardo Menedez March (centre) is in managed isolation. Photo / Mark Mitchell
MIQ contracts
Hipkins said the Government wouldn't engage in a public bargaining process with hotels as they renegotiate contracts with hotels.
The Government "would like to keep" the number of rooms in MIQ.
Hipkins said the Government might have to look at other alternatives for MIQ facilities if hotels didn't renew contracts but said they had "good relationships" with the owners.
The ESR report was not able to find Covid traces on surfaces in the Pullman, which led officials to believe the outbreak was through airborne droplets.
Hipkins hasn't ruled out using campervans for expanding MIQ but said it wasn't very likely.
Bloomfield said they weren't looking to extend the number of regions where there were MIQ facilities because they'd gotten into a really good routine and rhythm.
