Photo: University of Otago
As of Friday afternoon, more than 70 percent of New Zealanders aged 12 or over had received their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine, or are booked in to receive it. But as witnessed in Israel, where Covid cases have been rising sharply since July despite a high vaccination rate, so-called ‘breakthrough cases’ are a cause for concern - especially as we grapple with Delta and other emerging variants.
Professor David Murdoch is Dean of the University of Otago and co-leader of The Infection Group. He is also a member of the Strategic Covid-19 Public Health Advisory Group chaired by Sir David Skegg, and on various Covid-19 related committees, including testing and vaccine advisory groups.
Professor Murdoch joins the show to discuss vaccination rates and New Zealand’s strategy for elimination in the face of this outbreak.
People waiting for their turn at the drive-through vaccination centre at The Trusts Arena, Auckland. Photo: RNZ/Nick Monro
