More than two thirds of eligible New Zealanders have now had their booster, a huge step in the fight against the spread of Omicron in our communities.

Wild weather, traffic and queues didn’t deter the 70 per cent of those eligible – who have turned out at vaccination clinics across the motu over recent weeks. Credit also goes to our awesome team of more than 16,000 trained vaccinators who are doing the mahi.

We thank each and every New Zealander who has joined the fight so far, being boosted has increased their protection against severe disease.

With Omicron spreading rapidly in our communities, we encourage every remaining eligible person to get boosted. If you had your second vaccination at least 3 months ago and you’re 18 and over you can book online at www.BookMyVaccine.nz or visit a walk-in or drive-thru vaccination clinic. For a list of vaccinations centres visit Healthpoint.

Current cases

We are seeing that a large proportion of recent cases are under 30 years of age.  In the past fortnight, of the 14,940 cases reported, 59% have been under 30 years of age and 12% over the age of 50. The two age groups with the highest percentage of cases are people aged between 10-19 years of age and those aged between 20-29 which account for 25% and 25% of cases respectively.

The opposite pattern is seen in those who are in hospital with COVID-19. Of the current 236 patients with COVID-19 in hospital in the Northern region (there are 305 in the whole country) there are 19% who are under the age of 30 and 54% over the age of 50. This reflects similar trends seen overseas where younger people, who are more socially active, often have higher infection rates, though it is the older age groups which are most likely to require hospital treatment from COVID-19.

We are also seeing a continuing spread of cases across the country. The three Auckland DHBs continue to predominate with the highest rates of infection in the country (Auckland 1,843 cases per 100,000 population; Counties Manukau 2,596 per 100,000 population and Waitemata 1,179 per 100,000 population. Other areas with higher rates include Southern with 929 per 100,000; Waikato with 913 per 100,000 population and Bay of Plenty with 759 per 100,000 population.

Death of a patient in Northland

Sadly, a patient passed away in a Northland hospital yesterday. The person died from an unrelated medical condition and had tested positive for COVID-19. 

COVID-19 vaccine update

Vaccinations administered in New Zealand

• Vaccines administered to date: 4,019,173 first doses; 3,958,932 second doses; 33,413 third primary doses; 2,333,984 booster doses: 239,178 paediatric first doses and 3,072 paediatric second doses  
• Vaccines administered yesterday: 353 first doses; 863 second doses; 80 third primary doses; 28,836 booster doses; 2,891 paediatric first doses and 370 paediatric second doses  

People vaccinated (including those vaccinated overseas)*

• All Ethnicities (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 4,062,733 first dose (96.5%); 4,000,856 second dose (95.1%), 2,335,644 boosted (70.1% of those eligible)  
• Māori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 519,022 first dose (90.9%); 498,265 second dose (87.3%), 197,125 boosted (58.9% of those eligible)  
• Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 280,655 first dose (97.9%); 274,556 second dose (95.8%), 119,203 boosted (57.5% of those eligible)  
• 5 to 11-year-olds all ethnicities: 239,082 first dose (50.2%); 3,070 second dose (0.6%)  
• 5 to 11-year-olds - Māori: 35,089 first dose (30.4%); 488 second dose (0.4%)  
• 5 to 11-year-olds - Pacific Peoples: 21,005 first dose (42.5%); 426 second dose (0.9%)  

*Note, that the number for “people vaccinated” differs slightly from “vaccines administered” as it includes those that have been vaccinated overseas.

Vaccination rates for all DHBs (percentage of eligible people aged 12 +)**

• Northland DHB: first dose (90.3%); second dose (87.8%); boosted (68.5%)  
• Auckland Metro DHB: first dose (97.4%); second dose (96.1%); boosted (67.3%)  
• Waikato DHB: first dose (95.3%); second dose (93.5%); boosted (66.3%)  
• Bay of Plenty DHB: first dose (95.3%); second dose (93.3%); boosted (67.1%)  
• Lakes DHB: first dose (93.6%); second dose (91.4%); boosted (67.8%)  
• MidCentral DHB: first dose (96.8%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (72.6%)  
• Tairāwhiti DHB: first dose (93.4%); second dose (90.7%); boosted (68%)  
• Whanganui DHB: first dose (92.4%); second dose (90.4%); boosted (72.9%)  
• Hawke’s Bay DHB: first dose (97.2%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (70.7%)  
• Taranaki DHB: first dose (94.8%); second dose (93.1%); boosted (67.5%)  
• Wairarapa DHB: first dose (96.8%); second dose (95%); boosted (74.5%)  
• Capital & Coast DHB: first dose (98.7%); second dose (97.9%); boosted (77.9%)  
• Hutt Valley DHB: first dose (96.9%); second dose (95.7%); boosted (74.5%)  
• Nelson Marlborough DHB: first dose (96.8%); second dose (95.3%); boosted (75.8%)  
• West Coast DHB: first dose (93.1%); second dose (91.2%); boosted (73.5%)  
• Canterbury DHB: first dose (99.8%); second dose (98.7%); boosted (72.4%)  
• South Canterbury DHB: first dose (95.5%); second dose (94.1%); boosted (74.6%)  
• Southern DHB: first dose (97.9%); second dose (96.6%); boosted (74.3%)

**First and second dose percentages are for those 12+. Booster dose percentages are for 18+ who have become eligible three months after having their second dose.

Hospitalisations

• Cases in hospital: total number 305: Northland: 2; North Shore: 45; Middlemore: 110; Auckland: 100; Tauranga: 5; Taranaki: 3; Waikato: 34; Canterbury: 3; Southern: 3
• Average age of current hospitalisations: 52
• Cases in ICU or HDU: 5
• Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region only, excluding Emergency Departments): Unvaccinated or not eligible (34 cases / 14.4%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (5 cases / 2.1%); fully vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (111 cases / 47%); unknown (48 cases / 20.3%)

Cases

• Seven day rolling average of community cases (PCR): 6705
• Number of new community cases: 14,941
• Number of new community cases (PCR): 5,747
• Number of new community cases (RAT): 9,194
• Location of new community cases (PCR & RAT): Northland (225), Auckland (9,046), Waikato (1,519), Bay of Plenty (812), Lakes (208), Hawke’s Bay (136), MidCentral (142), Whanganui (19), Taranaki (100), Tairāwhiti (69), Wairarapa (45), Capital and Coast (516), Hutt Valley (373), Nelson Marlborough (158), Canterbury (981), South Canterbury (44), Southern (532), West Coast (9); Unknown (5)
• Number of new cases identified at the border: 41
• Number of active community cases (total): 67,632 (cases identified in the past 21 days and not yet classified as recovered) 
• Confirmed cases (total): 85,667

Please note, the Ministry of Health’s daily reported cases may differ slightly from those reported at a DHB or local public health unit level. This is because of different reporting cut off times and the assignment of cases between regions, for example when a case is tested outside their usual region of residence. Total numbers will always be the formal daily case tally as reported to the WHO.

Tests

• Number of PCR tests total (last 24 hours): 27,789
• PCR tests rolling average (last 7 days): 28,844
• PCR testing positivity (last 24 hours): 27.98%
• Number of Rapid Antigen Tests stock available in New Zealand: 6.9 million (Please note that this number is not updated over the weekend and reflects the number of tests as of Friday.)