New Zealand's medical regulator has given the all-clear for people as young as 12 to receive the Pfizer vaccine, but they cannot book in for a jab just yet.
At the moment, only people aged 16 and over in New Zealand are eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine.
MedSafe has now granted provisional approval for the programme to be extended to the 265,000 youths aged 12 to 15 - in line with other countries like the United States and Canada.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says Ministry officials will now provide advice on how best to roll that out.
She says Cabinet ministers will make a final decision next week. Ardern says New Zealand has purchased enough vaccine supply to cover the new age group so no one will miss out.
Pfizer announced its study's findings on vaccine use in young people in April, declaring it safe and strongly protective for children as young as 12.
