Pfizer COVID-19 bivalent vaccine announcement
Kia ora koutou,
Earlier this morning the Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced that the Pfizer COVID-19 bivalent vaccine will be available to New Zealanders as a booster dose from 1 March 2023
I expect that some of our patients will be asking about this change so here is what you need to know.
This will replace the existing Pfizer booster and is considered likely to be more effective against Omicron subvariants than earlier vaccines.
[NB: the primary vaccination course will continue to be the original Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine or Noravax]
From 1 March, people who are not currently up to date with their boosters will be offered the new bivalent booster.
There are currently 1.9m New Zealanders who have either not received their first booster, or who are at greater risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and have not received their second booster. For the first month of the vaccine rollout, these are the priority groups given the added protection the first and second boosters provide.
Bookings can be made via www.BookMyVaccine.nz or by calling the COVID Vaccination Healthline on 0800 28 29 26 (8am to 8pm, 7 days a week).
From 1 April, an additional booster will be made available to:
• anyone aged 30 and over who has completed a primary course, as long as it’s been at least 6 months since their last COVID-19 booster or positive COVID-19 test.
• people at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19 who have completed a primary course, as long as it’s been at least 6 months since their last COVID-19 booster or positive COVID-19 test.
1 April is also the start of the flu vaccination programme for 2023, so there will be a real focus on encouraging people to get both their COVID-19 booster and flu vaccination to ensure they are protected ahead of winter.
Refer to the Ministry of Health's website and the statement from Minister Verrall for further information.
Nāku noa, nā
Dr Samantha Murton President