Health Minister Ayesha Verrall has revealed details on the rollout of the new Pfizer Covid-19 bivalent vaccine.

The vaccine is designed to protect against the coronavirus as we first encountered it, but also against the Omicron forms causing the most Covid-19 infections in New Zealand now.

As previously explained by the NZ Herald, the updated vaccine carries two messenger RNA (mRNA) components of the virus, meaning half of it targeted the original Covid-19 strain, and the other half targeted the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants.

Medsafe has already granted provisional approval of the BA.4/5 bivalent version of the Pfizer vaccine.

Dr Ayesha Verrall has started her announcement by acknowledging the health staff affected by Cyclone Gabrielle, particularly those in regions impacted by the storm.

“Getting a Covid-19 vaccine is one of the most important steps you can take to protect yourself, your kaumata and whanau,” Verall said.

A new vaccine is being introduced for everyone over 30 as a booster dose, she said.

From 1 April everyone 30 and over will be able to get a booster regardless of how many vaccines they have had.

“People can book a vaccine through the usual channels,” she said. “Our advice remains consistent, get your vaccines and boosters as you become available.”

The bivalent booster gives added protection against variants circulating the globe.

“One of my priorities as health minister is to be better prepared this winter, this rollout is an important part of that.”

On why the vaccine is only for those over 30, Verall said they are more at risk - as Covid risk increases with age.

“For people aged between 16-29, they can discuss and get it with a prescription basis,” she said.

“The approach we have taken is safe and smart - we relied on advice of the advisory group and they recently recommended the bivalent vaccine.

“I think it’s very important we take this step and others to make sure we are set up for winter. There will be more announcements from Pharmac about the influenza vaccine. We will make sure that can be a one-and-done appointment - you can go in and get both.”

Dr Verrall said Te Whatu Ora was in constant contact with health providers and that it will work with primary care representatives to make sure the response is coordinated.

The health minister stressed it was still summer, and there were some months to go before the hard winter months set in.

Over the course of the next few months there will be 1.7 million bivalent vaccines in NZ. Eligibility will “always be under review” but the focus is on over 30-year-olds and people who are immunocompromised.

“This is a really important thing for making sure our health system functions over winter. It will protect you, and your whanau,” Verall said.

Community health providers will reach directly into their communities, and Whakarongoro (Healthline) will be in communication with iwi, she said.

 “We have to do better on how we work with Maori and we continue to learn. One of the key things we’ve done is make sure we have a Maori Health Authority, so Maori have a seat at the table.

“Our health system, while it has challenges, has achieved good outcomes. I want to back our health workers.”

Dr Ian Town said he did not know exactly how long the new vaccine would protect people for. But the fact so many people have already contracted Covid, they are likely to have higher immunity still with the vaccine.

The new vaccine has all the same protections as the old one, but adds on all the protection against the new variants, Town said.

Covid-19 modeller Professor Michael Plank has said he hoped New Zealand will start to use these updated vaccines in the near future.

“England has offered these bivalent vaccines to over-50s since September 2022 and around 65 per cent have since had a dose. Data shows that these vaccines halve the risk of hospitalisation for Covid-19 compared to people whose last dose was more than six months ago.”

Using Omicron-based vaccines will provide a better match to currently-circulating variants, which are all part of the Omicron family, Plank said.

“They may also broaden our immune response, meaning our immune system is less likely to be blindsided by a future new variant.”

This week the Ministry of Health reported 8220 new cases of Covid-19 in the community in New Zealand.

There were 162 people in hospital and four people in ICU.

The ministry reported 24 deaths- one was from Northland, seven were from Auckland region, four were from Waikato, one was from Taranaki, one was from MidCentral, one was from Whanganui, one was from Nelson Marlborough, six were from Canterbury, two were from Southern.

One was in their 20s, one was in their 50s, one was in their 60s, two were in their 70s, 12 were in their 80s and seven were aged over 90.