29 Nov 2022

Pfizer on latest vaccines amid rising covid-19

From Midday Report, 12:45 pm on 29 November 2022

27,000 cases of Covid-19 were reported in the last week or so and 6000 have been reported today.

Epidemiologists warn the real infection rate could be at least twice as high.

Omicron - and all its subvariants - have been sloshing amongst us for nearly a year now, and we're still using vaccines primarily targeted at the original strain of Covid-19.

While they still work, pharmaceutical giant Pfizer is seeking Medsafe's approval to licence bi-valent vaccines - containing both the original strain and Omicron.

Pfizer's New Zealand Medical Director Dr Krishan Thiru joined Māni Dunlop on Midday Report to discuss the situation.