New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced in Wellington on Friday, October 22, 2021, an ambitious goal of fully vaccinating 90% of those eligible to end coronavirus blockades. Ardern has come under pressure to open a path to freedom for people living in Auckland, the largest city, who have been in detention for more than two months.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, right, announces in Wellington on Friday, October 22, 2021, an ambitious goal of fully vaccinating 90% of those eligible to end coronavirus blockades. Ardern has come under pressure to open a path to freedom for people living in Auckland, the largest city, who have been in detention for more than two months.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announces in Wellington on Friday, October 22, 2021, an ambitious goal of fully vaccinating 90% of those eligible to end coronavirus blockades. Ardern has come under pressure to open a path to freedom for people living in Auckland, the largest city, who have been in detention for more than two months.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced in Wellington on Friday, October 22, 2021, an ambitious goal of fully vaccinating 90% of those eligible to end coronavirus blockades. Ardern has come under pressure to open a path to freedom for people living in Auckland, the largest city, who have been in detention for more than two months.
By NICK PERRY Associated Press
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) – The New Zealand government set an ambitious goal on Friday to fully immunize 90% of all eligible people to end coronavirus lockdowns.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had been pressured to open a path to freedom for people living in Auckland, who have been in detention for more than two months.
Under the new framework, people living in the larger city will regain much of their freedoms once 90% of people 12 and older in each of the three districts are fully immunized.
Other areas of the country without community spread of the virus will be granted even broader freedoms once they reach the 90% target. However, people will be required to use new vaccination certificates to visit places like bars, restaurants and gyms.
The government has also pledged more money to help businesses struggling with the lockdown restrictions and to increase vaccinations among indigenous Maori, whose rates are lagging behind.
New Zealand’s vaccination target is set higher than in many other countries, but Ardern said Auckland could meet it in a matter of weeks.
However, as vaccination rates have risen, health officials are finding it increasingly difficult to convince remaining holdouts to get bitten.
Currently, 89% of eligible Aucklanders have received at least one dose and 73% have received both doses, a rate slightly above the national average.
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