Black Cap bowls up for his jab
Deciding what arm his Covid-19 vaccination would go into, Black Cap Neil Wagner didn’t hesitate.
The left-arm pace bowler ‘‘naturally decided’’ to have the shot in his right arm and with training in the afternoon, it was an easy decision. Wagner received his first dose of the Pfizer/ BioNTech vaccine yesterday at Tauranga Hospital.
‘‘It was all over quickly and to be honest I didn’t really feel a thing,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s reassuring to know that if I do get Covid, my body will know how to fight it.’’
The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is a two-dose jab given at least three weeks apart. It’s the only Covid-19 vaccine to be given provisional approval by Medsafe for use in New Zealand.
The Black Caps are among a small group of athletes to be approved for an early vaccine through the Government’s ‘‘reasons of national significance’’ criteria.
Minister for Covid-19 Response Chris Hipkins announced the national significance category in late March, saying it was expected to cover national teams playing in overseas in televised sporting events.
Wagner was grateful for the opportunity.
‘‘We’re all hugely appreciative of the fact there is a category for international events that are in New Zealand’s national interest.
‘‘We’re really grateful for everything the government has done to this point, firstly in helping us host a safe and successful home summer of international cricket, and now assisting us to access the vaccines in time to tour.’’
The cricketer was the final member of the team to be vaccinated ahead of the squad’s upcoming tour of England.
Fifteen members of the 20-player squad have been vaccinated at different district health board clinics around the country over the past week. Four players – Kane Williamson, Trent Boult, Kyle Jamieson and Mitchell Santner – are already at the Indian Premier League, so left too early for the vaccine, and one player, Will Young, is in the UK playing county cricket.
The touring party will depart for London in mid-May to face England in two tests.