11 Dec 2023

Warning sounded over any moves to defund Covid vaccine

From Midday Report, 12:11 pm on 11 December 2023

A immunisation expert is worried if the government stops funding the Covid-19 vaccine people will no longer think of it as important. The Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says it's possible some people will have to pay in the future after current Pharmac funding ends in June next year - while the Health Minister Shane Reti has said funding remains under consideration. Vaccinologist and Auckland University Associate Professor Helen Petousis-Harris told me we are still very much in the grip of the pandemic.