From: Denise MacKay <Denise.MacKay@health.govt.nz> Sent: Tuesday, 25 May 2021 5:22 pm Subject: COVID-19 vaccination communications update: Clarity on underlying health conditions will give earlier access to more people in Groups 2 and 3 Kia ora, On behalf of the Ministry’s COVID-19 vaccination programme, I wanted to give you some information about some changes we will communicate to the public tomorrow. It’s important to ensure that people living in high-risk places and those most at risk of getting very sick if they get COVID-19 are given early access to the vaccine. The Ministry has recently provided clarity about underlying health conditions. This means more people in Group 2 in the Counties Manukau DHB area, and more people in Group 3 can now get earlier access to the vaccine. We will publish information for the general public about the expanded underlying health conditions on the Ministry of Health website and the Unite Against COVID website tomorrow (Wednesday 26 May). People may contact you seeking guidance, information or advice about the expanded health conditions, so we wanted to make sure you know what the list includes. In summary, people who meet one or more of the following criteria can now receive their COVID-19 vaccine as part of Group 2 (if in the Counties Manukau DHB area) and Group 3: • •
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they have a health condition that means they are eligible for a publicly-funded influenza vaccine including pregnant people they have been diagnosed with severe mental illness (which includes schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder or schizoaffective disorder, and adults currently accessing secondary and tertiary mental health and addiction services) they have poorly controlled or severe hypertension/high blood pressure (generally defined as requiring two or more medications for control or, not currently under adequate control) they are severely obese (defined as a BMI ≥40).
As always, clinicians may use their discretion around whether additional patients should be included in Group 2 (if in the Counties Manukau DHB area) or Group 3 if they are at a higher risk of poor health outcomes from getting COVID-19. Equity is a primary concern. Proof of diagnosis or condition is not required.
Access to the COVID-19 vaccine for disabled people Disabled people can access the vaccine in Group 2 (if in the Counties Manukau DHB area) or Group 3. For the purposes of the COVID-19 vaccine, this includes anyone who has an impairment that: • •
is expected to last for six months or longer, and limits their ability to carry out daily activities and/or participate in society on an equal basis to others. This can be due to the interaction of your impairment with societal and environmental barriers such as inaccessibility, rather than caused by the impairment itself.
This includes impairments that are: • physical • neurological • mental/psychiatric • intellectual • sensory • other types of impairment. This information will also be published on the Ministry of Health website and the Unite Against COVID website tomorrow (Wednesday 26 May). Further information about Group 3 The COVID-19 vaccination rollout continues to scale up well. We are currently running ahead of target, with well over 500,000 doses given. Vaccination of Groups 1 and 2 continues, and DHBs have started vaccinating people in Group 3. This will continue across the country over the next few months as we work our way through this large number of people, and then into Group 4. As has been the case throughout the rollout, we expect the way this occurs to vary from DHB to DHB. Each DHB is taking an approach that works for their communities within the overall rollout plan. Vaccinating well over 1 million people in Group 3 will take time, but there is enough vaccine for everyone. People in Group 3 will be contacted soon by their DHBs or health care providers about getting their vaccination. Our vaccine rollout is a massive undertaking, with thousands of New Zealanders involved – from vaccinators to medical specialists, logistics experts, courier drivers, receptionists, volunteers and many more people. It relies on the support of everyone. Thank you for your patience, and for working with us to help protect Aotearoa. Ngā mihi Denise Mackay Strategic Communications COVID-19 Vaccine and Immunisation Programme Ministry of Health 021 2416435