Covid-19 Vaccine Strategy Taskforce
M inutes – Wednesday 28 October
Mee
ting Details
Members in Attendance
MBIE: Peter Crabtree (chair)
MFAT: Glenys Karran
MOH: Maree Roberts; John Whaanga ,
PHARMAC: Apology
Chris James (Medsafe)
Treasury: Cara Palmer-Oldcorn
DPMC: Sasha O’Dea, Philippa Yasbek
STAG: Ian Town, David Murdoch, James Ussher (items 1-7)
Apologies
Jess Hewat, Prue Williams, David Taylor, Lisa Williams
Additional attendees
MBIE: Simon Rae, Karl Ferguson, Poppy Haynes, Alastair Mackay, Stephanie
Symynuk, Justine Daw, Zachary Clarke,
MFAT: Glenys Karran,
MOH Allison
Bennett, Kelvin Watson
Action Points
1 Welcome and review of Actions
No actions
2 COVAX Purchase plan and decision rules
NOTED: The group highlighted the need to have a standardised process to support al
decisions to build the portfolio, which recognises the level of risk the Portfolio is managing.
ACTION: Develop a standardised risk assessment for the Vaccine Portfolio, to support future
decision making including those related to COVAX.
3 Horizon Market Research
NOTED Can be shared within an Agency but not beyond. Specifical y don’t share yet with
TPM as this needs to be agreed with Horizon.
ACTION Karl to work with colleagues on a process to socialise results
ACTON Karl to see if there is more detail on the ethnicity information in the table on page 6
and also Section 5
Vaccine Approval Process.
ACTION Karl to discuss TPM work-plan scope with Philippa Yasbek and/or Treasury.
ACTION Ian Town and Fran Priddy to brief the Taskforce by December on options for clinical
trial/long-term monitoring in NZ, and how this might provide information in support of the
Communications and Engagement pil ar.
4 Project status update
NOTED: Simon has the Strategy and Policy team considering medium-term risks as part of
the medium-term strategy work
5 Immunisation Strategy and implementation programme
ACTION: Chris James to discuss Medsafe process and timeframes with Immunisation team to
assist in timeframe planning.
ACTION: Following the above, potential y hold a focus session with Simon, Poppy and Kelvin
on timing.
6 Communications and Stakeholder update
No actions
7 COVAX and International
No actions
8 APA Update
NOTED: need to keep Cara (Treasury) in the loop on upcoming Cabinet and Joint Ministers
papers
9 Other business
ACTION: VAANZ Platform Director James Ussher and Clinical Director Fran Priddy to brief the
Taskforce by December on progress against agreed plan, as wel as any observations from
their international connections.