ProCare, New Zealand’s largest network of primary healthcare professionals, has today welcomed the announcement from the Director General of Health that the Astra Zeneca vaccine has been added to New Zealand’s COVID vaccination programme.

This will now enable those few hundred individuals over the age of 18 who for medical or personal reasons are unable to receive the Pfizer vaccine to be protected against COVID-19.

Bindi Norwell, Chief Executive at ProCare says: “We have welcomed today’s announcement from the Director General of Health that the Astra Zeneca vaccine will be available in New Zealand from late November.

“With vaccinations of healthcare workers now mandatory under the Public health Response Order, this means that there is now an alternative option for those who would like to be protected against covid, but for various reasons are unable to get the Pfizer vaccine.

“We look forward to hearing more details around timing in due course and working closely with the Ministry to help deliver the vaccine across Tāmaki Makaurau for those that need it,” she concludes.

ENDS

For more information, please contact:

Dee Crooks, Director of Brand and Communications dee.crooks@procare.co.nz or 022 0310 380.

About ProCare - ProCare is New Zealand’s largest network of family doctors (GPs), nurses, general practice teams and healthcare professionals providing community-based healthcare to more than 800,000 people across the greater Auckland region. As New Zealand’s largest Primary Health Organisation we represent 167 practices serving the largest Pacific and South Asian populations enrolled in general practice in New Zealand and the largest Māori population in Tāmaki Makaurau. For more information go to www.procare.co.nz