Its America, they do not even know how to spell Altruism, let alone behave in an altruist manner.

Press release:

 

Cabinet has confirmed formal Government approval for use of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says.

 

Following the provisional approval by Medsafe announced last week, formal Government approval for use represents another critical step in the process of ensuring the vaccine is safe and effective for New Zealanders.

 

“The Government is continuing to go by the book and has carefully considered the ‘decision to use’ the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine as part of our nationwide programme,” Chris Hipkins said.

 

“Medsafe’s provisional approval was step one and ‘decision to use’ is a further greenlight on the road to our roll-out. After receiving further advice, Cabinet has endorsed officials’ advice to use Pfizer/BioNTech.

 

“While we’ve found the ‘decision to use’ process around this first application to be relatively straightforward, the Government also recognise there will be a huge amount of further detail to consider as the other vaccines in our portfolio of 14.91 million courses go through the Medsafe approval process.

 

“Now we’ve reached the crucial stage of approval for the first vaccine, we are in a much better position to start having a conversation with New Zealanders about how we plan to proceed, recognising the natural questions some will have. Information campaigns will start from next week to support this.

 

“As part of our portfolio, we have secured up to 750,000 courses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine through an Advance Purchase Agreement, and we are seeking a further small allocation through the COVAX Facility.

 

“When the first batch of vaccine arrives, we will be ready to go. We will start vaccinating our border workers within days of arrival and then the people they live with. People such as cleaners, the nurses who undertake health checks in MIQ, security staff, customs and border officials, airline staff and hotel workers will be among the first to get the vaccine.”

 

Chris Hipkins confirmed the vaccine has been assessed by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and has gained its approval for use here.

 

“All these steps can provide further assurances to the New Zealand public that this vaccine is safe to use,” Chris Hipkins said.

 

“While vaccination of our border and other frontline workers takes place, we will continue to receive advice from officials on the other vaccines in our portfolio. Medsafe is in regular conversations with AstraZeneca and Janssen and has begun engagement with Novavax. A similar rigorous approval process is being followed.

 

“New Zealand continues to play a role internationally and specifically with the Pacific countries participating in the Polynesian Health Corridors programme. These countries, which include the Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau, Samoa, Tonga and Tuvalu, will be given access to the New Zealand vaccine portfolio.

 

“There is still a long way to go but as a country we’ve made strong and significant progress against COVID-19 since it first emerged as a serious global threat about 12 months ago. The Government will leave nothing to chance to ensure that progress continues,” Chris Hipkins said.

 

freitasm:

 

Press release:

 

In shocking news politicians  (who know little about medicine) rubber stamp the advice of medical officials, who actual know a thing or two,  to  recommended a vaccine to stop a global pandemic infecting Border and Medical workers in NZ.....

I mean were they really going to not approve it.... :)

frankv:

Batman: a patch / update to a vaccine? can you install that on those already vaccinated? it's a sign of the times!

Bill Gates says it will update automatically over 5G. 🤡

Stu: We live on the same planet as these people. That's too close. Next time this ride pulls into the station, I think I'll jump off and try something different.

if you dont want to really get annoyed/upset , then dont read the comments under the video, it pretty much sums up why the USA is where they are now.

Stu: We live on the same planet as these people. That's too close.

Cathay to suspend services to NZ from Feb 20.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/124212157/cathay-pacific-suspends-auckland-service 

Press release:

 

New Zealand’s first batch of Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is set to arrive in New Zealand next week subject to transportation plans and quality temperature control, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today.

 

“We have been working behind the scenes to secure the timely arrival of vaccines for our border workers and their families and it’s great they will arrive well within our scheduled timeframes,” Jacinda Ardern said.   

 

“Government representatives have been in conversations with Pfizer on a constant basis for the last few weeks. We appreciate the effort the company has gone to to deliver the first instalment earlier than originally anticipated.    

 

“Last year we indicated the vaccine would arrive in quarter two, and earlier this year we updated that to quarter one. It’s pleasing to be receiving doses this early in quarter one.

 

“The arrival of our first batch of doses is an important milestone in our fight against COVID-19. We now anticipate further deliveries through quarter one from Pfizer.

 

“Our first priority is our border workers, who we expect to vaccinate within two to three weeks followed by their household contacts. Health care and essential workers and those most at risk from COVID-19 will follow in quarter two, before vaccination of the wider population in the second half of the year,” Jacinda Ardern said.

 

COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said the first vaccinations to border workers were on track to be administered in the same week as the vaccine’s arrival in New Zealand. The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine requires two doses and must be stored at -70 degrees centigrade.

 

“Systems and processes are in place for the first vaccinations to start once final checks have been completed,” Chris Hipkins said.

 

“On arrival, the vaccine must be independently tested for quality assurance, which is another important safety check. The doses will then be formally released to start the first phase of the vaccination programme.

 

“At this stage, we are expecting to start offering the vaccine to our border and MIQ workers on 20th February, with the first immunisations given out to those working in the Auckland region,” Chris Hipkins said.

 

Victoria AU is just announcing a 5 day state wide "circuit breaker' lockdown after the there new cluster related to a Melbourne quarantine hotel grew by 5 cases today.

Stay at home for all but essential workers, there children. Masks worn everywhere.

I assume this means the Australian Open will be paused for 5 days.

Interestingly the Australian PM is currently in Melbourne to publicize the AstraZeneca production facility

Will he be stuck in town for a week or have to go back to Canberra/NSW and quarantine?
(EDIT - lockdown kicks in at midnight - so I assume he's going out of state this arvo)

KrazyKid:

Victoria AU is just announcing a 5 day state wide "circuit breaker' lockdown after the there new cluster related to a Melbourne quarantine hotel grew by 5 cases today.

Stay at home for all but essential workers, there children. Masks worn everywhere.

 

I assume this means the Australian Open will be paused for 5 days.

Interestingly the Australian PM is currently in Melbourne to publicize the AstraZeneca production facility

Will he be stuck in town for a week or have to go back to Canberra/NSW and quarantine?
(EDIT - lockdown kicks in at midnight - so I assume he's going out of state this arvo)

 

Players and coaches have been in a form of bubble (considered essential too?!?!). There is a chance like sport elsewhere they could keep that operational. Ball boys and so on aren't exactly side by side.

https://www.news.com.au/sport/tennis/australian-open/what-victorias-snap-lockdown-means-for-the-australian-open-tennis/news-story/7fa738e208fe489bc0efb282eebf6004 

As part of the lockdown, which comes into place at 11.59pm on Friday and lasts until the same time on Wednesday, public gatherings are not permitted and as such, no fans will be allowed at Melbourne Park to watch the tennis for the next five days.

Becomes a 'workplace' rather than 'entertainment'. Sneaky huh

PM is essential worker

 

Not convinced :)