A new close contact exemption scheme will help keep critical supply chains running though Omicron, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins and Associate Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today.
Health
Ministers
The Government will fund a quarter of a million more free flu vaccines for this year’s winter campaign to protect our most vulnerable communities and the health system.
Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta and Associate Health Minister Aupito William Sio today announced that New Zealand is donating further Pfizer vaccines to Tonga and Samoa.
The Government is providing a $1.5 million dollar boost to the Prepare Pacific Community Vaccination Fund.
The Government has secured the delivery of enough rapid antigen tests (RATs) to help New Zealand through a widespread Omicron outbreak in the coming months.
The Government has announced a three phase Omicron plan that aims to slow down and limit the spread of an outbreak.
New Zealand’s PCR testing capacity can be increased by nearly 20,000 tests per day to deal with a surge in cases as part of our wider COVID-19 testing strategy.
The two Chief Executives to lead Aotearoa New Zealand’s future health agencies have been appointed.
The Government will upgrade 24 local hospitals next year to support planned and routine care, to ensure non-COVID patients are safe when COVID patients are being treated.
Bold new measures will be implemented, including banning the sale of cigarettes to future generations, as part of the Government’s plan to make New Zealand smokefree.
Associate Minister of Health, Aupito William Sio is calling on any Pacific students studying health or disability-related courses to apply for a Ministry of Health Pacific Health Scholarship.
New Zealand has secured supplies of another medicine to treat COVID-19, Health Minister Andrew Little announced today.
Associate Minister of Health, Dr Ayesha Verrall has congratulated testing teams right around New Zealand for reaching the five million tests milestone.
Care for the sickest New Zealanders is getting a major boost from the Government, with plans to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on expanding intensive care-type services.
Health Minister Andrew Little has released an interim report by an independent panel reviewing the national pharmaceuticals-buying agency Pharmac.
From today, it’s illegal to smoke or vape in most vehicles carrying children aged under 18 years old - whether the vehicle is moving or not.
Associate Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall has announced an investment to help expand maternal mental health services in five District Health Boards.
Associate Minister of Health (Māori) Hon Peeni Henare today confirmed that Māori across the motu have now reached 80 percent for first doses of the COVID-19 vaccination nationally.
A new national testing strategy will provide better protection for high-risk groups as New Zealand transitions to the COVID-19 Protection Framework.
The Government is increasing the support for New Zealanders who test positive for COVID-19 through the rollout of the COVID Care in the Community model and a $300 million funding boost to Pharmac to purchase new medicines to treat the virus.
Drug-checking services will continue to operate legally at festivals, pop-up clinics, university orientation weeks and other places this summer and beyond, thanks to a law passed today, Health Minister Andrew Little says.