CO VID-19 VACCINE STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION WEEKLY REPORT
Week ending:
27 November 2020
Priority:
Routine
Security
In Confidence
Tracking number: 2021-1563
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 for COVID-19 Response
Hon Nanaia Mahuta
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Hon Andrew Little
Minister of Health
Dr Peter Crabtree
Maree Roberts
General Manager Science, Innovation and International
Deputy Director-General, Systems Strategy
27/ 11/ 2020
and Policy
27/ 11 / 2020
Minister’s comments:
0
IN CONFIDENCE
COVID-19 Vaccine Strategy
Implementation
Weekly Report
Week Ending 27 November 2020
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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 have concluded negotiations with a third vaccine supplier in the past week, and will brief Ministers by Monday
(30th) recommending the purchase of doses from this supplier. The proposed agreement is a final, legally binding
supply agreement and is the only step needed to secure doses. 9(2)(ba)(i) & (ii)
This deal would add another reasonably wide population cover vaccine to our portfolio and
complement the existing deals with Pfizer and Janssen.
9(2)(ba)(i) & (ii)
The Minister of Finance presented a statement to the House of Representatives this week, which notified that an
indemnity was granted in favour of Pfizer. This is a requirement under the Public Finance Act 1989. Presenting this
statement therefore puts the fact of the indemnity being granted (but not the terms of the indemnity) in the public
domain. The communications team has prepared lines to support any questions on indemnities that result.
Immunisation Strategy and Programme
Contact: Mathew Parr
Phone: 9(2)(a)
Technology programme
Progress is being made into the technology components of the immunisation programme. This is primarily focused on
developing National Immunisation Solution (NIS) that will replace the current National Immunisation Register. The NIS
will be a critical component of delivering the COVID-19 vaccine and accurately record who receives which vaccine and
when. An interim NIS will be completed by 1 January 2021, with a more complete solution to be ready by 1 March
2021.
A total of 8 technology projects are underway, including the NIS. Other components have commenced and include
developing a vaccinator register to have a national view of who can deliver vaccinations in New Zealand, an inventory
management solution to track the vaccine and consumables, and a solution for monitoring adverse reactions. The size
and scale of these projects varies, and the team is rapidly scaling up to ensure enough resources are on hand to
deliver these projects to support vaccine rollout.
Communications and engagement
As noted in the Vaccine Strategy Cabinet paper, there will be a transition in communications leadership from MBIE to
MOH at the end of 2020. This is due to a shift in focus shifts from vaccine purchasing to an immunisation programme
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VACCINE STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION WEEKLY REPORT
and campaign. Efforts will be made to ensure this will be a seamless transition, and where possible consistency of
perso
nnel will be maintained.
We have received feedback from Ministers and Programme Governance that a more proactive approach to
communications and engagement is needed, particularly in the lead-up to Christmas. To facilitate this, we are actively
recruiting additional resources to support with this work, including specialists in Maori and Pacific comms, with
dedicated people to manage stakeholder engagement. Content planning has commenced and we will look to
proactively share information with the public ahead of the summer period.
Programme plan on a page
A change in planning assumption date was agreed between MBIE and MOH. The planning date for immunisation has
now been confirmed as 1 March 2021, which has enabled us to accurately plan our activities for rolling out the Pfizer
vaccine on this date. Contingencies will be in place to ensure we are ready to rollout the vaccine should it arrive early,
including both the interim NIS and ultra-low temperature storage in place by 1 January 2021.
Research, Science and Manufacturing
Contact: Justine Daw
Phone: 9(2)(a)
Science advice
The Science & Clinical Review Panel, a subcommittee of the Taskforce’s Science and Technical Advisory Group, has
reviewed the recent interim Phase 3 trial results for the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccine candidates to ensure that the
scientific assessments informing Ministerial decisions on advance purchase agreements, portfolio balance, risks and
immunisation reflect the latest available information.
In parallel, the Vaccine Taskforce has prepared a suite of non-confidential summaries of vaccine candidates of
potential interest to inform wider programme decision-making, support science communications, and facilitate
international Taskforce collaborations with likemindeds. In the reporting period, these summaries have served to
strengthen sharing of best practice between the New Zealand Taskforce and the Australian Government Department
of Health, Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences and Australian National Centre for Immunisation
Research and Surveillance. In New Zealand, they are informing early work by the National Immunisation Advisory
Centre (IMAC) to support cross-system preparation for immunisation roll-out (e.g. education, training and health
sector support and communications).
Global commercial collaborations
The Taskforce has responded to requests from NZTE and offshore MBIE Science and Innovation representatives to
facilitate domestic introductions between several commercial vaccine interests in the US with an interest in
collaborating with New Zealand-based vaccine developers, researchers and clinical trial experts. These interactions
highlight that New Zealand is an increasingly an attractive destination for inwards investment, business development
and potentially immigration of global leaders in vaccine development and manufacturing, particularly as the pandemic
continues globally.
Joint updated from MBIE and MOH Communications
Contact: Karl Ferguson (MBIE)
Carl Billington (MOH)
Communications planning
We are preparing communications in anticipation of an APA announcement next week. We will work with your office
to coordinate how this announcement will take place, and provide a draft media release, reactive Q&As and key
messages.
We continue to work collaboratively with AOG Communications to provide content for their social media channels and
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VACCINE STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION WEEKLY REPORT
web page, and will provide additional content to support the APA announcement. Separately, we are in discussions
with Siouxsie Wiles about potential content we could commission from her to support the channels and help tell the
vaccine science story to the public. We are also in the process of developing a short animated video to explain the
COVID-19 Vaccine Strategy.
We are progressing options to gather further research and insight into public sentiment towards potential vaccines.
We will use these insights to inform our communications and engagement approaches, and to track vaccine
sentiment.
We are also working with your offices to develop a proactive tactical plan, which includes identifying key
spokespeople, and how we work with commentators, and community influencers to confirm the key messages we
want to promote in the lead up to the Summer holiday season. The approach is designed to ensure the progress we
are making on the vaccine strategy is well understood, and support ongoing public health COVID-19 messaging during
the festive season.
Stakeholder engagement
We provided a Vaccine Strategy update from Peter Crabtree to agency communications teams for distribution to
relevant frontline staff. The purpose of the email was to provide a direct update on the work of the Taskforce to key
staff to ensure they were aware of progress made towards securing a safe and effective vaccine.
MBIE and MOH will meet with DIA this week to discuss how best to engage with ethnic communities.
Both agencies will also brief the Early Childhood Education Sector next week, providing an update on the Vaccine
Strategy and to hear any concerns from the sector.
Media management
We met with the Science Media Centre to discuss opportunities for media briefings. The intent is for the media
briefing to coincide with future announcements, and we will work towards aligning this with the next APA
announcement.
Both MBIE and MOH continue to receive a steady stream of media queries related to vaccine trial announcements
(Pfizer and Moderna), Medsafe approval processes, storage and distribution processes, vaccines for the Pacific and the
sequencing of immunisation rollout. Your office received reactive lines on each topic.
MBIE also provided reactive lines to your office to support potential media queries after the Gamaleya Centre
released interim trial results for the Sputnik V vaccine.
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VACCINE STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION WEEKLY REPORT
Upcomin
g Briefings
Due Date
Briefing
Title
Sign Out
Number
Manager
27 Nov
2021-1537
Purchase of COVID-19 vaccines from AstraZeneca Ltd
Peter Crabtree
Cabinet Paper
Due Date
Briefing
Title
Sign Out
Number
Manager
07 Dec (to Cab)
2021-1124 COVID-19 Vaccine Strategy: Update on vaccine purchasing
Peter Crabtree
Update on the COVID-19 Immunisation Strategy and
MOH
07 Dec (to Cab)
Programme
07 Dec (to Cab)
Support for Pacific and Global Vaccine Access and Roll-out
MFAT
Ministerial Official Information Act Requests
Due to
Due to
Number
Requestor Request
Status
Sign out
MO
Requestor
Copies of any briefings the
Minister has received from
Government Departments
(except for Briefings to
9(2)(a)
Incoming Ministers, which I
OIA20-131
4 Dec
11 Dec
understand are being
Scoping
Poppy Haynes
proactively released) between
6 November 2020 and 13
November 2020 under the
Official Information Act.
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