CO VID-19 VACCINE STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION WEEKLY REPORT
Week ending:
2 October 2020
Priority:
Routine
Security
In Confidence
Tracking number: 2021-1019
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 Health
Rt Hon Winston Peters
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Dr Peter Crabtree
Maree Roberts
General Manager Science, Innovation and International
Deputy Director-General, Systems Strategy
02 / 10 / 2020
and Policy
02 / 10 / 2020
Minister’s comments:
0
IN CONFIDENCE
COVID-19 Vaccine Strategy
Implementation
Weekly Report
Week ending 2 October 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)
Overall progress summary
Science reviews: 5 Science reviews completed.
Provision of Heads of Terms/supply agreements: 5 drafts received.
Negotiations with vaccine suppliers: 1 Heads of Terms negotiation concluded. 4 in active discussion.
Progress this week
This week, we plan to seek approval from joint ministers for the Director-General of Health to sign the Heads
of Terms with a priority vaccine candidate. The briefing sets out the analysis of the candidate against the
vaccine purchasing framework and highlights legal and commercial considerations.
We have also completed a business case on the indemnity for the same priority candidate. This will inform
Treasury’s advice to the Minister of Finance, who will ultimately make the decision on whether to give the
indemnity.
We expect to conclude negotiations on heads of terms with two other suppliers within the next fortnight and
are engaging with two other potential vaccine candidate suppliers.
We continue to support the Science and Clinical Review Panel by collating relevant science information on
candidates, which may be offered as part of the COVAX arrangement. This will ensure New Zealand is on the
front-foot when presented with purchasing options through COVAX.
Immunisation Strategy and Programme
Contact: Mathew Parr
Phone: 9(2)(a)
Joint Ministers will, this week, receive a request for funding to deliver a critical component of the
immunisation programme, which is the purchase of minus 70 degree cold chain infrastructure and all the
consumables required to deliver the portfolio of vaccines purchased. Given the pressure on global supply
chains due to COVID-19, it is critical that the purchasing of these progresses quickly.
The Immunisation Implementation Advisory Group (IIAG) will have their first substantive meeting on 2
October 2020 to discuss prioritisation. It is envisioned that the group will meet fortnightly.
Internally, the Ministry of Health is progressing several workstreams to ensure we are positioned to deliver
the portfolio of vaccines. This includes developing plans for how each vaccine will be delivered at the
operational level, and running internal workshops to understand how we ensure we have a workforce
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VACCINE STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION WEEKLY REPORT
capable of delivering the vaccines. The Ministry of Health is also working with MBIE to develop a
com prehensive communications and engagement approach across all aspects of the programme.
COVAX
Contact: Glenys Karran
Phone: 9(2)(a)
At least 168 economies will participate in the COVAX Facility and the COVAX Advance Market Commitment,
including 76 self-financing economies and 92 ODA-eligible economies. Contacts at Gavi expect the number
to continue to rise in the coming days, and we anticipate the UK will be among the later additions.
Officials are preparing for the first decision point in the COVAX Facility procurement process, which concerns
whether to participate in a Purchase Opportunity for purchase of doses from a given manufacture. Once Gavi
finalises the terms of agreement with a manufacturer, Purchase Opportunity participants will be invited to
exercise Purchase Options.
We can expect to need to consider Purchase Opportunities from as early as mid-October (following payment
of upfront costs). Joint Ministers will be consulted on any decisions to opt-out of Purchase Opportunities,
and any subsequent decisions on exercising Purchase Options.
Officials are also seeking capital-based engagement with Realm governments at working level to discuss next
steps for provision of vaccines for Realm populations through New Zealand’s participation in the COVAX
Facility.
Following your approval for the use of ODA funding for the purchase of vaccines for Polynesia, a joint briefing
on New Zealand’s vaccine portfolio is being prepared for the Prime Minister and Ministers of Finance,
Research Science and Innovation and Health. This will include information about New Zealand’s intention to
advance purchase sufficient doses of some vaccines to be able to offer doses to Polynesian countries for later
reimbursement by the ODA programme. Work is under way to implement this decision in such a way that
supports existing regional WHO-led COVID-19 response initiatives and uses the Polynesian Health Corridors
initiative to support the immunisation needs of these populations.
Science and Manufacturing
Contact: Justine Daw
Phone: 9(2)(a)
Manufacturing
Officials have set up a meeting with representatives from the Canadian Government to exchange views on
opportunities for domestic contract manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccines, including sharing learnings from
bilateral APA negotiations. This discussion will aid development of longer-term thinking as to how we can
best build future pandemic preparedness in New Zealand.
Science advice
The Taskforce’s independent
Science and Clinical Review Panel has completed five science reviews of priority
APA vaccine candidates. Two more science reviews are expected this month for bilateral APA candidates,
with up to four more possible this calendar year for vaccine candidates on offer through the multilateral
COVAX Facility.
The Consensus documentation that results from each review process draws on both commercially-privileged
information and data provided to New Zealand by the developer/supplier, as well as publicly available
information (e.g. trial registration data, pre-print research summaries and data, and peer-reviewed research
publications), and is used to inform officials’ advice to the Taskforce (and subsequently Ministers) on vaccine
purchase decisions.
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VACCINE STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION WEEKLY REPORT
Summary documentation is to be prepared from this material, which will be updated as new information
becom
es available (e.g. clinical trial results, regulatory approvals) to inform future decisions on the use (or
otherwise) of purchased vaccine candidates.
Communications
Contact: Karl Fergusson
Phone: 9(2)(a)
Communications planning
An overarching communications and engagement strategy has been completed and approved by the
Taskforce. The strategy sets out distinct phases, and has been developed in conjunction with all Taskforce
agencies, particularly the Ministry of Health.
The strategy recognises the lead role that the Ministry of Health will have in developing and implementing a
national public information campaign once a suitable vaccine becomes available. As part of the strategy
development, we have connected with DPMC and related agencies to determine how best to monitor and
potentially counter, mis/disinformation about vaccines.
Planning continues to support future APA announcements.
Stakeholder engagement
We are working with the Ministry of Health to develop the Terms of Reference and likely membership of a
joint Stakeholder Reference Group. The approach recognises common interest by stakeholders in both the
procurement and roll-out of a suitable vaccine and is designed to ensure we have one, aligned conversation
to capture their views and input.
Media management
We have worked with MFAT to support Dr Helen Petousis-Harris to undertake a Niue TV interview. The
interview focused on dispelling myths about COVAX (some of which are ‘experimental vaccines’), vaccine
safety, and likely timings of vaccine availability.
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VACCINE STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION WEEKLY REPORT
Upcomin
g Briefings
Due Date
Briefing
Title
Sign Out
Number
Manager
2021-
Commitment to purchase COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer
Peter Crabtree
30/09/2020
0996
Inc.
TBC
Building a portfolio of COVID-19 vaccines
Simon Rae (MBIE)
Allison Bennett (MOH)
(Oct 2020)
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)
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