ISSUE
Friday, January 31, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 44
The threat of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 has undoubtedly impacted the globe recently and has led to every country relooking at the ways to the latest version of the Covid pandemic. New Zealand is no exception.
Ever since South Africa reported the new variant of Covid-19 to the World Health Organisation (WHO) on 24 November, Omicron has become a household name. Omicron is now in more than 72 countries around the world. There are 22 cases with this variant in NZ so far.
The NZ government made a few announcements yesterday about dealing with the variant.
Some of the fundamental changes announced by Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins on Tuesday included the interval between the second dose and the booster shot is reduced from 6 months to 4 months starting from January. Moreover, there will be a delay in the start of the self-isolation scheme for Australian arrivals pushed out to the end of February, which was earlier 17 January, and roll out of paediatric doses of Pfizer for 5-11s to start from 17 January before schools reopening in 2022.
Other changes that were announced included that the requirement for travellers to NZ to return a negative test within 72 hours of departure will be reduced to 48 hours of departure, and the current MIQ stay of seven days in a facility will also be extended to 10 days. Lastly, all countries will be removed from the Very High-Risk country list.
Indian Weekender spoke to leading political parties to know their take on the strategy that NZ is planning to deal with the Omicron variant.
Chris Bishop, National Party’s Covid-19 Response spokesperson
On shortening of booster shots interval: It’s good news that the government has reduced the standard gap between the second dose and booster shots of the Pfizer vaccine from six months to four months. We need as many people to get booster vaccines as possible. The government needs to change the tone and tempo of its advertising campaign quickly – "two shots for summer" now needs to become "three shots over summer.
"Why do people need to wait until early January before booking a booster after four months? The Book My Vaccine website should be updated immediately to allow people to book after four months. It's essential we quickly roll out boosters to everyone working at the border and on the frontline of our health workforce.
On delaying the border opening: “The pushback of the partial opening of the border to Kiwis in Australia to the end of February is disappointing. National has pushed for vaccinated travellers to be subject to different rules to unvaccinated travellers, and for home isolation to be the default setting for people, rather than using the blunt instrument of MIQ.
“We acknowledge that in the difficult circumstances presented by Omicron, a short delay in ending MIQ to allow as many people to be boosted as possible is necessary, but we should not underestimate the suffering this will cause for many Kiwis offshore. The sooner we can return to the plan of allowing fully vaccinated travellers to enter New Zealand without entering MIQ, the better.”
On vaccination for children: “The rollout of vaccination for 5-11-year-olds is good news but has been too slow. A real opportunity to get kids vaccinated in school-based settings before Christmas has been missed. Hundreds of millions of 5-11-year olds' vaccines have been given worldwide, but NZ has been slow to approve it and will now be slow to roll it out."
David Seymour, ACT Party leader
On shortening of booster shots interval: “Chris Hipkins has told the country that we need to buy time against Omicron, but is happy to wait two weeks before bringing forward boosters. If it's urgent, they could have said, 'from today, you can book a booster from four months after your second dose.' If there is not enough capacity, bookings will be full.' Isn't that what we'd want?
“There are no other initiatives to boost NZ’s resilience besides needing a test within 48 hours of departing for New Zealand and extending MIQ to 10 days. There is nothing about ICU or general hospital capacity. We have to assume they’ve given up on contact tracing such a rapid variant. How are new treatments coming along, is the Government doing anything other than waiting to boost?”
On delaying the border opening: “The government doesn't know what to do about Omicron. We know there's no certainty, but people want clarity. Tens of thousands of people will have their hopes dashed, often after waiting for an age to be reunited. There is no logic in the reopening delay. It's unclear why a six-week delay in home isolation is worth it when even Hipkins admits the virus may well escape MIQ anyway will get here and spread rapidly despite MIQ, perhaps as soon as next month. He is buying time at others' expense. They will pay, and we'll end up in the same place anyway.
“The Government has again shown that it has no forward-thinking or balancing New Zealanders' different risks in its Covid response.”
On vaccination for children: “Children have given up a lot to protect older people; it's time to protect them. The Food and Drug Administration trial showed the Pfizer vaccine is no danger to children. Sadly, the virus is a danger to children, so we need to protect them.
Dr. Elizabeth Kerekere, Green Party Covid-19 Response spokesperson
On shortening of booster shots interval: “The emergence of the Omicron variant does present significant challenges for New Zealanders. The speed at which it is spreading in other countries shows how important it is that we do what we can to keep people safe.”
On delaying the border opening: “The recent announcement must have been really tough for people outside of Aotearoa to hear, as well as for their whanau waiting to see them. The Green Party have been moved by the many stories of New Zealanders and residents living overseas who have faced difficulties returning home, whether to be reunited with their children or to look after a sick family member. As hard as it is, delaying the opening of the border is necessary to keep our communities safe.
“From the start of the pandemic, the Greens have called for a more compassionate approach to MIQ. Our proposals would ensure people who urgently need to come home – for example, for health reasons, family reunification or visa expiry – can get a spot. We have also pushed for increased capacity so more can come home. The Government must make sure that those who need to get home, can.”
On vaccination for children: "When the vaccination rollout begins for children aged 5 to 11 years on 17 January 2022, Maori and Pasifika providers must be empowered and resourced to lead the hauora journey of their communities.
“Vaccinations are a powerful tool for keeping loved ones, whanau, and communities safe from Covid-19. But from the beginning of the rollout of vaccines to people aged over 11 years, the specific needs of Maori and Pacific providers were not prioritised.”