Vaccine breakthrough

ScoMo’s visit goes ahead, busy agenda

Kiwis will soon be able to get the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccination from their local pharmacy or GP.

Medsafe announced yesterday that after assessing data from Pfizer, it had approved the vaccine to be stored at normal fridge temperatures (2C to 8C) for up to 31 days.

Previously the vaccine was stored at ultra-low temperature of between -90C to -60C.

Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins described the significant development as “great news”.

“That gives us more options for transporting the vaccine to some of our more remote communities,” he said.

“And as the rollout progresses, it’ll also be easier for people to pop down to their local pharmacy or GP to receive their vaccination.”

MedSafe added the change would take effect immediately for any jabs clinics had in stock, unless the expiry date had passed. Vaccines dispatched from Wednesday would include updated labels to reflect the change.

The vaccine will still be needed to be kept at between -90°C to -60°C for long-term storage of up to six months.

The Government yesterday revealed it had also tightened New Zealand’s border against any potential Covid-19 breach from across the Tasman.

As Australian PM Scott Morrison prepares to arrive here tomorrow, Hipkins announced that anyone flying to New Zealand from Australia must return a negative Covid-19 test.

Travellers who had been in Victoria on or after May 20 and were not otherwise prevented from travelling to New Zealand would need to test negative before they get on a plane here, Hipkins said.

Anyone who had been in Victoria since 7.59pm on May 25 could not fly to New Zealand at all.

Extra checks would be in place at points of departure and arrival so any travellers who fall into this category, regardless of where in Australia they are flying to New Zealand from, must keep evidence of a negative predeparture test on them at all times.

Failure to produce evidence could result in people being denied boarding, or penalties on arrival in New Zealand. The only exception was for children under the age of 2, the statement said.

Hipkins said this step was being taken to ensure those people who had been in Melbourne during the infectious period of the original detected Covid-19 cases, but who had since flown to another state, couldn’t fly on to New Zealand without first confirming they don’t have the virus.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Morrison have a big agenda to get through during their talks in Queenstown over tomorrow and Monday, and China and regional security will loom large in many of them.

And they are likely to dismiss any suggestion that transtasman relations are at a low ebb, despite clear differences over a rising China, and how to treat Kiwis in Australia.

Covid-19 and opening up to other countries in a co-ordinated way will be top of the agenda.

Developments in the Pacific will feature large, including vaccine assistance, the resistance of the previous Samoa Government to transfer power following elections, and the crisis in the Pacific Islands Forum in which five Micronesian members are threatening to leave over the appointment of the secretary general.