3 Jul 2021

Dr Fran Priddy: New Zealand’s unique study on the Pfizer vaccine

From Saturday Morning, 8:30 am on 3 July 2021
Dr Fran Priddy

Dr Fran Priddy Photo: supplied

New Zealand’s ‘COVID-naive’ population will offer unique data to global research as part of a new clinical study looking at how our bodies respond to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

The study, entitled Ka Mātau, Ka Ora, is being led by Vaccine Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand (VAANZ) and is currently underway in Rotorua and Christchurch.

VAANZ clinical director Fran Priddy says while the vaccine has demonstrated efficacy and safety in clinical trials and real-world studies, it has not yet been studied in New Zealand. 

Ka Mātau, Ka Ora will focus on characterising immune responses, particularly in populations at higher risk from Covid-19 such as Māori, Pasifika and the elderly.