Government releases Covid-19 vaccine delivery schedule, elderly and people with pre-existing conditions to be prioritised
Chris Hipkins has unveiled New Zealand's Covid-19 vaccination timetable.
Read more in Thomas Manch's story below:
The Government intends to dole out the Covid-19 vaccine to about half of New Zealand by the end of June, and the elderly and people with pre-existing conditions are “priority populations” to receive early access.
A long-awaited schedule for the Pfizer vaccine roll-out was published by Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins on Wednesday, and showed the country carved into four groups.
“This is a balanced plan that prioritises reducing the chance of future outbreaks while protecting our elders, those with underlying health conditions and those who live in locations where we know outbreaks have occurred,” Hipkins said in a statement.
The first group to receive the vaccine, border workers and their families, would be completed by the end of March.
The second, 480,000 frontline healthcare workers and people living in “high-risk settings” has already begun and would continue until May.
The 234,000 people living in these “high-risk settings” include older people and people with pre-existing health conditions in the Counties Manukau District Health Board (DHB) area, people in residential aged-care facilities, and older people living in a family environment that poses a similar risk to aged-care homes.
“Anyone who lives in the Counties Manukau DHB area who is 65 and older or who has an underlying health condition is also in Group 2. This recognises that there are many border operations and MIQ facilities and their workforces based in this area,” Hipkins said.
The third round of the roll-outs would be for all other people aged 75 years old, then 65 years old, then people with pre-existing health conditions which include heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, respiratory conditions, kidney disease, and cancer.
The Government hopes to begin vaccinating this group – 1.7 million people in total – in May.
The fourth group is the remainder of the population, 2 million people who will start receiving the vaccine from July.
What do you think of the schedule for the Pfizer vaccine roll-out?
*Please put NFP if you do not want your comments used by Stuff.
Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
Denim, but make it one-of-a-kind 💙
Not every pair of jeans makes it to the rack... but that doesn’t mean their story ends there. Our talented volunteer Annie has been transforming damaged denim into handcrafted bags, hats and aprons in our Onehunga SPCA Op Shop ✂️🧵
This latest batch even features her own hand-sewn designs, and customers have been loving them, they sell almost as soon as they hit the shelf!
It’s creativity, sustainability and community all stitched together, helping animals in need 🐾
📍 217 Onehunga Mall, Onehunga
🕘 9am–5pm, 7 days
Step by step for a great cause!
Our amazing Hillary Hikers from Edmund Hillary Village showed their support for Bowel Cancer New Zealand's Move Your Butt campaign this month!
Sporting the bright purple and orange campaign shirts, these wonderful walkers hit the Auckland waterfront and marched from Mission Bay to Kohimarama, raising awareness for bowel cancer and the importance of early detection along the way.
Click read more to read the full story.
Loading…
