Helen Petousis Harris
Children under 5 can now be vaccinated by pharmacists
A vaccinologist says allowing pharmacists to vaccinate children under 5 years' old will help improve immunisation rates in pockets of the country where they are dangerously low.
Pharmacists can now… Audio
Warning sounded over any moves to defund Covid vaccine
A immunisation expert is worried if the government stops funding the Covid-19 vaccine people will no longer think of it as important. The Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says it's possible some… Audio
The Week in Detail: West Coast's blue flip and hazing rituals
The Detail podcast brings you the issues behind the news every weekday. Here's what we covered this week. Audio
Covid: Still here, still deadly
It's the unwelcome guest that no one wants to talk about – Covid-19 may be below the radar now, but it hasn't gone away and is likely to claim 1,000 Kiwi lives this year. Audio
Pacific kids contracting meningicoccal in NZ likely to increase this winter
Pacific children contracting meningicoccal disease likely to increase this year. Audio
Good time to get Omicron-specific vaccine - vaccinologist
A vaccinologist says it's logical to roll out a new Omicron-fighting vaccine just in time for winter.
The bivalent jab, which combines two strains of the virus, will be available for anyone 30 plus… Audio
Should NZ get the Omicron booster?
Adults in Australia can now get Moderna's Omicron Covid-19 booster vaccine.
Should it be made available in New Zealand?
University of Auckland vaccinologist Helen Petousis-Harris spoke to Guyon… Audio
NZ needs to prep for other infectious diseases in coming months
Latest figures show there are at least five-and-a-half-thousand new community cases of COVID 19 in the country There's currently a rolling average of eight-and-a-half thousand cases and 24 deaths per… Audio
How far away is a universal coronavirus vaccine?
Vaccine researchers are increasingly interested in the pursuit of a universal coronavirus vaccine that is resistant to all variants.
University of Auckland vaccinologist Helen Petousis-Harris spoke… Audio
Second Covid-19 boosters for most at-risk coming soon
Second booster doses of the Covid-19 vaccine will soon be available for those most at risk of getting very sick from an infection.
The Response Minister Chris Hipkins says several hundred thousand… Audio
Covid-19: Expert on possible second booster shot
As Omicron rages in New Zealand, attention is turning to a possible fourth Covid-19 vaccine dose.
The Director-General of Health, Ashley Bloomfield, has asked for advice on how helpful an additional… Audio
Why we're lining up for a third injection
In the seemingly never-ending parade of covid-enforced changes, we are now queueing for a third vaccination. Here's why it's so vital, now that Omicron has entered the picture. Audio
Covid-19: Vaccinologist on AstraZeneca becoming available
AstraZeneca jabs will soon be available, in what is being seen as another lever in the government's push to boost vaccination rates.
The double dose vaccine will provide an alternative for those who… Audio
Late vaccination sees elderly woman catch Covid in resthome
An elderly dementia patient who has tested positive for Covid-19 at an Auckland resthome had only received her first dose of the Pfizer vaccine last month. Nova Gibson, says that she didn't get the… Audio
Murupara vax rates hindered by kaumatua, local doctor
To the Bay of Plenty of town in Murupara now which has one of the lowest rates of vaccination for Covid-19 in the country. So far untouched by the Delta outbreak, there are serious concerns about what… Audio
Your questions on the Pfizer vaccine answered
Some of the world's leading vaccine experts from Melbourne, London and New Zealand have, this evening, been answering journalist's questions about how good the covid-19 Pfizer vaccine is and how to… Audio
Covid-19: Kiwis to get surveys on vaccine response
New Zealanders are now going to be surveyed to help track reactions to the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine.
A text message will be sent from the Ministry of Health to about 10 percent of randomly selected… Audio
Even the fully vaccinated should act as if they have Covid
A leading health expert says even if you are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 you still need to act as if you are carrying the virus to ensure you don't risk infecting others. Vaccinologist Helen… Audio
Life for the vaxxed in NZ will be different to the unvaxxed
At yesterday's 'Reconnecting New Zealanders to the World forum' there were perhaps more questions than answers. But there was one thing about which all the experts agreed unequivocally: get the… Audio
Covid-19: Vaccinologist on best gap between injections
The recommended wait time between getting your first and second Covid-19 Pfizer shot could soon be extended.
Cabinet may discuss today whether to extend the current gap from three weeks to eight… Audio