Wednesday, 29 November 2023
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDRIVEN Car GuideThe CountryPhoto SalesiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub
Voyager 2023 media awards
Subscribe

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

Covid 19 coronavirus: Government may provide indemnity to NZ supplier of vaccine

RNZ
By Ben Strang
29 Jul, 2020 07:46 PM4 mins to read
Saveshare

Share this article

facebookcopy linktwitterlinkedinredditemail
A volunteer participates in the vaccine trial in Oxford. Photo / AP

A volunteer participates in the vaccine trial in Oxford. Photo / AP

By Ben Strang, RNZ

The Ministry of Health is planning to fast-track the approval process for a Covid-19 vaccine, and won't rule out offering a supplier indemnity from any potential claims resulting from its use.

It said Medsafe will ensure a vaccine is safe for use, and it will not be used on people unless clinical data suggests it is safe and effective.

A vaccine is the golden ticket back to normality, and is eagerly sought by people throughout the world.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

This week, pharmaceutical companies Moderna and Pfizer announced they were launching trials of a Covid-19 vaccine which they say, if successful, could lead to approval and widespread use by the end of the year.

More than 150 coronavirus vaccine candidates are in various stages of development, with some two dozen prospects already conducting human testing.

Politicians are wanting to rush them into use when they are ready to go.

New Zealand is no different, and a Ministry of Health spokesperson said in a statement that it is looking at how it approves vaccines.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

"As part of the Covid-19 vaccine strategy, the Ministry is working to develop an expedited regulatory approval process that will still maintain standards," the statement read.

Megan Woods, the Minister of Research, Science and Innovation, whose team is leading the vaccine strategy work. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Megan Woods, the Minister of Research, Science and Innovation, whose team is leading the vaccine strategy work. Photo / Mark Mitchell

"Medsafe will ensure that any vaccine for Covid -19 will be of acceptable efficacy, quality and safety before it is used in New Zealand.

"Clinical data will be required to ensure any vaccine is safe and effective before it is used on people. The process will be run by Medsafe."

The Ministry did not rule out offering indemnity to a vaccine supplier, as has happened previously.

Related articles

World

'No way' Victorian lockdown will end in three weeks

29 Jul 08:36 AM
World

Police forced to smash her window: Conspiracy theorist's dramatic arrest

29 Jul 05:00 PM
New Zealand

Man who tested positive for Covid-19 ate at McDonald's before Singapore flight

29 Jul 06:11 PM
World

'Screams for help': Victoria's virus horror

29 Jul 06:07 PM

Documents obtained under the Official Information Act show the previous Labour government accepted liability when it sourced a bird flu vaccine.

In May 2007, the Ministry of Health obtained 100,000 vaccines from Baxter Healthcare, at a cost of up to $3.4 million.

But as part of the purchase, the government had to provide indemnity to Baxter.

"It is not practical to conduct a normal trials process with this vaccine, so Baxter cannot license the vaccine in the normal way," the report, sent to then-Finance Minister Michael Cullen, and then-Health Minister Pete Hodgson, said.

"It is also not possible to know ahead of time how effective the vaccine will be against any H5 pandemic virus that may develop within the shelf life of the vaccine."

The Ministry said every potential supplier of the vaccine had the same conditions - indemnity "from any claims arising from the use of the vaccine".

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

While it was deemed a financial risk, it was determined to be worth it for the potential benefits if the bird flu pandemic worsened.

RNZ has put questions to Megan Woods, the Minister of Research, Science and Innovation who is leading the vaccine strategy work, about whether the government would consider taking liability for a Covid-19 vaccine.

Meanwhile, as part of that strategy, Pharmac said it is seeking information "regarding Covid-19 vaccine research, manufacture and supply, including supplier willingness to consider a range of different commercial scenarios for supply to New Zealand".

It said it has not sought commercial proposals for the supply of a vaccine.

Pharmac listed eight technology platforms it is considering for a vaccine, but said it is open to other technology also.

The vaccine types were: Inactivated virus; live attenuated virus; DNA-based vaccine; RNA-based vaccine; non-replicating viral vector; replicating viral vector; protein subunit; and virus-like particle.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

The government has dedicated $37m to the Covid-19 vaccine strategy, which includes support for local research and manufacturing, and support for international research.

Saveshare

Share this article

facebookcopy linktwitterlinkedinredditemail

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

Police descend on Papakura town centre following serious incident

28 Nov 04:46 PM
Premium
Politics

Derek Cheng: Why the new Government wants to make it easier to smoke tobacco

28 Nov 04:00 PM
New Zealand

Guy Body’s cartoons: November 1 - 30

28 Nov 04:00 PM
New Zealand

Mayor keen to sell Port of Auckland and invest proceeds into $4b fund

28 Nov 04:00 PM

Top toys of 2023 for kids & ‘kidults’

sponsored

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Police descend on Papakura town centre following serious incident

Police descend on Papakura town centre following serious incident

28 Nov 04:46 PM

An injured person has been rushed to hospital.

Premium
Derek Cheng: Why the new Government wants to make it easier to smoke tobacco

Derek Cheng: Why the new Government wants to make it easier to smoke tobacco

28 Nov 04:00 PM
Guy Body’s cartoons: November 1 - 30

Guy Body’s cartoons: November 1 - 30

28 Nov 04:00 PM
Mayor keen to sell Port of Auckland and invest proceeds into $4b fund

Mayor keen to sell Port of Auckland and invest proceeds into $4b fund

28 Nov 04:00 PM
Toy trends for Christmas
sponsored

Toy trends for Christmas

About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2023 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP