Anzac effort on vaccine

New Zealand must act and cannot just watch the rest of the world’s attempts to make a Covid-19 vaccine, an expert says.

Infectious disease specialist and Otago University professor David Murdoch said New Zealand must work out what it can contribute to international efforts.

‘‘We need to have a strategy. We just can’t wait and see what the world comes up with and say ‘can we wait in line for it?’,’’ Murdoch said.

‘‘We need to be looking at options, talking to our colleagues and seeing what we can offer and seeing how we can work together. There are all sorts of possibilities.’’

Director-general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said yesterday at the daily Government Covid-19 update that with at least 90 to 100 vaccine trials under way globally, New Zealand was keen to help.

‘‘We are getting a planned approach to this, and [we are] very keen on taking an Anzac approach to that as well, so [we are] working closely with Australia.’’

Bloomfield said while New Zealand researchers were keen to be involved, ‘‘we are not anticipating New Zealand’s best

Professor David Murdoch endeavours are to put funding into trying to develop a vaccine, but rather to work alongside other vaccine developers’’.

Earlier this week, experts had expressed concern that New Zealand could be well back in the queue for a vaccine, which is not expected to be available for at least a year or 18 months.

Bloomfield said the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment were together finalising ‘‘very active work’’ on New Zealand’s approach to the vaccine effort.

This could involve clinical trials, as well as ensuring New Zealand was in the queue for a vaccine, once available, he said.

He promised more ‘‘within the week’’.

Following Bloomfield’s comments, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said manufacturing a vaccine was an aspect that New Zealand could be involved with.

Murdoch, who was on the national vaccine committee for over a decade, said New Zealand developing its own vaccine was ‘‘a tall order’’. The country also had too few cases of the virus to carry out large late-stage studies, he said.

However it could contribute researchers and technology, be part of early stage studies, or manufacture a vaccine under licence, he said.

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‘‘We just can’t wait and see what the world comes up with and say ‘can we wait in line for it?’’