CO VID-19 VACCINE STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION WEEKLY REPORT
Week ending:
6 Novemeber 2020
Priority:
Routine
Security
In Confidence
Tracking number: 2021-1201
classification:
Action sought
Deadline
Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern
Note the contents of this Weekly Report
N/A
Prime Minister
Hon Grant Robertson
Minister of Finance
Hon Dr Megan Woods
Minister of Research, Science and
Innovation
Hon Chris Hipkins
Minister of COVID-19 Response
Hon Nanaia Mahuta
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Hon Andrew Little
Minister of Health
Dr Peter Crabtree
General Manager Science, Innovation and International 05/ 11 / 2020
Maree Roberts
Deputy Director-General, Systems Strategy
and Policy
05 / 11 / 2020
Minister’s comments:
0
IN CONFIDENCE
COVID-19 Vaccine Strategy
Implementation
Weekly Report
Week Ending 6 November 2020
1
VACCINE STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION WEEKLY REPORT
Purpose
This weekly joint report updates Ministers on key developments of the implementation of the COVID-19 Vaccine
Strategy.
Workstre
ams
Advance Purchase Agreements
Contact: Poppy Haynes
Phone: 9(2)(a)
Progress this week
We are aiming to recommend up to four additional deals this year. We expect to brief relevant Ministers on another
heads of terms late next week, and in the second half of November on two further deals as well as the Pfizer definitive
agreement. We will provide further advice in December as we complete negotiations of other definitive agreements.
We are ensuring the pharmaceutical companies are connected with the relevant regulators (Medsafe and the EPA) as
well as with the Ministry of Health team responsible for logistics and immunisation rollout. This helps the
immunisation programme team gather the information needed (such as delivery and storage/cold-chain
requirements) to plan effectively for immunisation rollout.
Immunisation Strategy and Programme (MOH)
Contact: Mathew Parr
Phone: 9(2)(a)
A health report is being prepared to provide an update on the COVID-19 immunisation strategy and sequencing
framework in the coming week. The draft COVID-19 immunisation sequencing framework was well received by the
Immunisation Implementation Advisory Group at the meeting on Friday 30 October, however it will continue to be
developed iteratively to reflect emerging guidance, analysis and evidence from international and New Zealand
experiences.
A draft Cabinet paper is also being prepared to report back on the COVID-19 immunisation strategy and sequencing
framework by the end of November. This was circulated for interagency consultation on 3 November.
Preparation for implementation continues at pace. A funding request for workforce training is expected by next week
to train and prepare the required workforce.
COVAX
Contact: Glenys Karran
Phone: 9(2)(a)
The first meeting of the COVAX Facility Shareholders Council took place on 2 November, including representatives of
all 94 self-financing participants. The focus of the agenda was to establish a pathway for finalising governance
structures and electing officeholders, and to provide further details on candidates in the COVAX portfolio.
Three vaccine candidates are included in the first purchasing decision window, and participants are required to
indicate whether they would like to opt in or out of purchasing these doses by 16 November. Officials are working on
advice to Joint Ministers on these purchasing decisions. Participants are also asked to organise and vote on office-
holders by 23 November. MFAT is leading engagement with regional partners to form an approach to constituency
arrangements ahead of this deadline.
Further to recent budget announcements, Australia has announced $500 million in assistance over three years to
provide safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines and support health security in the Pacific and Southeast Asia. Officials
2
VACCINE STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION WEEKLY REPORT
will continue to engage with Australia to ensure our assistance and messaging to the Pacific on vaccine access is well-
coord
inated.
Resea
rch, Science and Manufacturing
Contact: Justine Daw
Phone: 9(2)(a)
Surveillance and monitoring
The Taskforce’s Science and Technical Advisory Group (STAG) is turning its mind to the clinical trials/research,
surveillance systems and associated data needed to assess the safety and effectiveness of purchased vaccines. With
several vaccines likely to be employed across the population, and no/limited global data for key population cohorts
(e.g. Maori, Pacific peoples, the aged), the Science and Technical Advisory Group has asked Dr Fran Priddy, Clinical
Director for the Vaccine Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand (VAANZ) Platform and globally-recognised clinical trials
expert, to work with experts on the STAG to identify priorities for national surveillance and monitoring. A consistent
approach will support the immunisation roll-out, underpin the evidence-base for ongoing public communication and
engagement, meet our obligations to our Polynesian partners, and optimise any new investment in this area.
Science advice
The Taskforce’s independent
Science and Clinical Review Panel has completed two further science reviews of priority
APA vaccine candidates in the reporting period, and progressed scientific documentation for other potential
candidates. Science assessments have been finalized for five vaccine candidates, with a sixth assessment to be closed
off next week. The Panel is also preparing to support assessment of three vaccine candidates to be offered to New
Zealand via the COVAX Facility, and provide science advice on ‘portfolio balance’ across the priority vaccine
candidates.
Comparing approaches – Singapore and Australia
Contact: Simon Rae
Phone: 9(2)(a)
We have been closely engaging with our counterparts in Singapore and Australia to compare and evaluate our
approaches to vaccine purchasing. Singapore and Australia are largely employing a similar response to our own, where
they are using similar decision-making criteria to establish a ‘core portfolio’ of several leading vaccines.
Australia has announced two additional APAs, taking its overall portfolio to four candidates (similar to our intended
core portfolio). The most recent announcements include 40 million doses of the Novavax vaccine and 10 million doses
of the Pfizer vaccine.
6(b)(i)
These engagements have led us to conclude that we are well-aligned with the approaches of similarly placed
countries, including on the vaccine candidates that we are targeting. We will provide further advice to ministers on
the shape and needs of our vaccine portfolio in our upcoming advanced purchase agreement briefings.
3
VACCINE STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION WEEKLY REPORT
Communications
Contact: Karl Ferguson
Phone: 6(a)
Communications planning The “science and safety” video of STAG member, Dr Helen Petousis-Harris, is due to be published this week, with
accompanying content and a new page on the Covid-19 website.
We are starting to engage with our contacts at pharmaceutical companies ahead of the next APA announcements and
will work with your office to shape how the announcement(s) will take place. We will provide talking points and
reactive Q&As.
Stakeholder engagement We have started to send invitations to members of the Stakeholder Reference Group, with briefings looking to
progressively roll out during November and December. We are actively working with other agencies to access their
existing forums (eg, Ministry of Education).
Media management We are in the process of contacting stakeholders who are frequently called upon in the media to discuss the topic of
vaccines and are aiming to deliver a briefing in the week of 9 November. The purpose of the briefing is to ensure that
commentators are supported with accurate messaging where needed.
We have provided your office with messaging ahead of a potential announcement by Australia to purchase additional
vaccine candidates. We are not aware of a set date for the announcement, but anticipate it will take place in the
coming days.
Upcoming Briefings
Due Date
Briefing
Title
Sign Out
Number
Manager
Purchase of COVID-19 vaccines from Janssen
13 Nov
2021-1195 Pharmaceutica
Poppy Haynes
16 Nov
Initial COVAX purchase opportunities
Maree Roberts
Peter Crabtree
202111 42
TBC
Business Case for Domestically Manufacturing COVID-19
Simon Rae
Vaccines
(Nov 2020)
Cabinet Paper
Due Date
Briefing
Title
Sign Out
Number
Manager
TBC
COVID-19 Vaccine Strategy – Nov 2020 Progress Report
Peter Crabtree
(Nov 2020)
TBC
COVID-19 Immunisation Strategy – November 2020 progress
MOH
report
(Nov 2020)
4
VACCINE STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION WEEKLY REPORT
Minis
terial Official Information Act Requests
Due to
Due to
Number
Request Requestor Request
Status
Sign out
MO
or
NZ’s approach to purchasing
Poppy
OIA 2021-
11 Nov
24 Nov
9(2)(a)
vaccines developed using
Scoping
Haynes
0890
“unethical” cell lines
5
