Older Kiwis urged to get COVID-19 boosters

As Kiwis prepare for Christmas, public health officials are recommending that people who are more likely to experience severe COVID-19, such as Māori and Pacific people aged 50 and over, as well as everyone aged 65 and older, get a booster vaccine before the holidays.

Dr Nicholas Jones Director of Public Health says New Zealand has been experiencing another wave of COVID-19 over the last few weeks with hospitalisations now back to levels seen last January. “We are concerned that as the country heads into the summer holiday period, there will be increased social gatherings and events which could both increase the rate of infections in the population and potentially put vulnerable populations at risk”, says Dr Jones. “As we approach the summer season of gatherings and events, a summer 2023/24 booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for groups who are at higher risk of becoming severely ill: people aged 65 and older, Māori and Pacific people aged 50 and older, those who have a medical condition that makes them severely immunocompromised (12 years of age and older), Pregnant people who have not had any booster dose previously, have co-morbidities, or have no history of previous COVID-19 infection, residents of aged care facilities, and people who were recommended to receive a booster in April 2023 but have not yet done so. “These groups are recommended to have a summer 2023/24 booster irrespective of the number of previous doses they’ve had, so long as they have completed the initial two doses and it’s been more than six months since their last booster or COVID-19 infection,” Dr Jones says. “If you get your booster now you will reduce your risk of severe illness over the holiday period.” “Everyone aged over 30