Deal to buy second vaccine; border controls tighter

WELLINGTON: New Zealand has bought a second Covid19 vaccine, but has tightened border controls again until vaccines are introduced.

Science Minister Megan Woods yesterday said New Zealand had agreed in principle to buy up to five million doses of a vaccine being developed by Janssen Pharmaceutica, a subsidiary of global giant Johnson & Johnson.

Up to two million doses would be delivered from the third quarter of 2021, with an option to buy up to three million additional doses to be delivered in 2022.

This followed a deal announced last month to buy 1.5 million doses of a vaccine being developed by US firm Pfizer and

Germany’s BioNtech, having a delivery that ‘‘could be as early as the first quarter of 2021’’.

At the same time, Covid19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins announced a tightening of controls on border workers, including:

Testing ship pilots and some other port workers who carry out work on affected ships, weekly instead of fortnightly.

Testing some workers who carry out work on aircraft that have arrived from outside of New Zealand, weekly instead of fortnightly.

Fortnightly testing for port workers not already covered.

Fortnightly testing for airport airside and landside workers not already covered who interact with international passengers.

Requiring employers to facilitate testing of workers and to keep records of testing requirements and compliance.

An August public health order requiring regular testing of border workers was being amended to bring in the tighter rules from 11.59pm on November 25.

The new measures came as three new Covid cases were reported by the Ministry of Health yesterday, all in managed isolation.

The Government had allocated $66.3 million to buy Covid19 vaccines and prepare a vaccination programme, and was negotiating to buy other vaccines as well as the Pfizer and Janssen products.

‘‘This agreement forms part of our portfolio approach to ensure that we have the ability to access a range of vaccine options, if and when a suitable vaccine is developed and approved,’’ Dr Woods said.

‘‘A key point of difference for the Janssen vaccine is that it’s likely to be a singledose vaccine and is compatible with standard vaccine distribution channels, so it may potentially be more efficient to administer.’’

The Pfizer vaccine required two doses, so the 1.5 million doses New Zealand was buying could immunise 750,000 people. It also required specialised freezer storage at 70degC.

Mr Hipkins declined to comment earlier this week on whether New Zealand’s portfolio would include a vaccine announced by US company Moderna, which claimed to be 94.5% effective at preventing Covid19.

He said there were about 230 vaccine candidates under development.

‘‘We’re monitoring them all and we’re in conversation with as many of them as we can be.’’

Dr Woods said the Ministry of Health was preparing ‘‘a range of vaccine scenarios and how best to sequence the delivery of vaccines’’ considering those at risk of contracting the virus, those at risk of spreading it and those at high risk of severe cases or death. — The New Zealand Herald