Covid-19 Vaccine Strategy Taskforce
M inutes – Wednesday 11 November
Mee
ting Details
Members in Attendance
MBIE: Peter Crabtree (chair), Simon Rae,
MFAT: David Taylor
Prue Williams
MOH: John Whaanga , Chris James
PHARMAC: Lisa Williams
(Medsafe)
Treasury: Jess Hewat
DPMC: Sasha O’Dea, Philippa Yasbek
STAG: Ian Town, David Murdoch
Apologies
Maree Roberts, James Ussher
Additional attendees
MBIE: Karl Ferguson, Poppy Haynes, Alastair Mackay, Stephanie Symynuk, Zachary
Clarke,
MFAT: Glenys Karran,
MOH Allison Bennett, Kelvin Watson ,
PHARMAC:
Andrew Oliver
Action Points
1 Welcome and review of Actions
ACTION: Andrew Oliver to organise a meeting of the model ers in TPM, PHARMAC and other
groups to agree way forward
2 COVAX Purchase plan and decision rules
AGREED the approach to dealing with the first 3 COVAX Vaccines as laid out in the paper.
NOTE: Ensure brief to ministers is expedited and that it loops in Ministers Hipkins and
Mahuta
3 Immunisation programme
NOTED the Vaccine Strategy Taskforce supports the Immunisation programme decision on
the planning assumption for the earliest start for the Immunisation programme being 1
March 2021
ACTION: Chris James to provide an overview of Medsafe’s process to the next meeting.
ACTION: Al ison Bennett to circulate Sequencing paper once approved.
4 Update on vaccine candidate engagement
AGREED: Approach to the next 3 APA’s was endorsed
AGREED: Approach to candidates on a slower path was also endorsed
5 Outline of vaccine purchasing cabinet paper
NOTED: Feedback to Simon on funding, need for a recommended option, inclusion of more
background information.
ACTION: Prepare a plan for the first quarter of 2021
6 Project status update
No action
7 Communications and stakeholder update
ACTION: Karl to prepare a brief to Ministers on the communications and engagement plan
for the end-to-end approach to vaccine purchasing and rol out
8 COVAX and International
No actions