People who are most at risk of serious illness from Covid-19 will be eligible for a second Covid-19 booster from July.
Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says the additional booster for our most vulnerable will be important as we move into winter.
“We know a booster helps reduce the chance of more serious infection, and it will be less likely that you need hospitalisation,” Hipkins says.
The Ministry of Health’s Covid-19 Vaccine Technical Advisory Group suggests that a second Covid-19 booster could be beneficial for vulnerable community members six months after receiving their first booster.
People eligible for this booster will include:
- our older population
- residents of aged care facilities
- residents of disability care facilities aged 16 and over
- severely immunocompromised people aged 16 and over
Final decisions on the eligible group will be made within the next two weeks.
If any of the eligible population has had Covid-19, they will need to wait at least three months after getting the virus before having the additional dose.
Hipkins says “based on current advice, for those who are not at risk of severe illness from Covid-19, a two-dose primary course and a booster dose provides very good and lasting protection, which is why we can be more targeted in the rollout of the second booster”.
In order to make the rollout possible, Hipkins says they will need to amend the Medicines Act, which they anticipate will occur from mid-June.
Top Image: A person after getting their Covid-19 jab. (File photo) Photo: Stock image
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