The Covid-19 vaccine will be given to border workers from Saturday of next week, PM Jacinda Ardern told reporters today.
OPINION
I've had all my jabs.
There was some confusion over whether I had the final MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine, even though my mother assures me that I have, it wasn't recorded in my medical history so I got another one recently – just to be sure.
Iwas told there was no extra risk to me being given an extra dose, and it gives me peace of mind.
It means I can fend off those pesky bugs if I come into contact with them, meaning I won't get sick and I won't pass on the diseases to others.
I also get the flu jab every year – lovely nurses come to our offices and administer them. It's convenient, quick and I don't have to go to the doctor's office to do it.
I'm also looking forward to the day when I can receive a Covid-19 vaccine.
The Government has announced the first batch will arrive in New Zealand this week and from February 20, border and MIQ workers in Auckland will be offered the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine - as they should.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says it will take about a year for the Covid-19 vaccination programme to be rolled out. Photo / Getty Images
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says it will take about two to three weeks for all those frontline workers to receive the jab. After that, their families and close contacts will be immunised.
Then it will be healthcare workers, and those most at risk from the disease, and then a general rollout for the wider population will begin.
She says it will take a full year for the programme to be rolled out and the Government is hoping to get about 90 per cent of the population vaccinated.
I hope we get to that target. It will put us in the best position to be able to assess reopening our borders – something our economy is crying out for.
To that end, once our frontline workers and vulnerable citizens are vaccinated, I hope all barriers are removed to make it easy for the general population to be able to get vaccinated.
I hope the public and the private sectors get involved, offering paid leave to workers to get vaccinated or even allowing vaccination teams on worksites and office buildings – removing excuses for people to say no. The Government must make it easy for businesses to let it happen.
Time, pay and transport issues are all barriers to getting people vaccinated and the Government must consider solutions to removing these.
Our team of five million has been successful this far – let's keep it going.
