New Zealand calls on more vaccinators coming on board for COVID-19 campaign

WELLINGTON, July 2– Retired and overseas-trained health professionals and the wider health workforce can now join New Zealand’s expanding vaccinator workforce, the country’s COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said on Friday. The government has changed Medicines Regulations to allow more health workers to be trained to give vaccinations, to lend a…

WELLINGTON, July 2 (Xinhua) — Retired and overseas-trained health professionals and the wider health workforce can now join New Zealand’s expanding vaccinator workforce, the country’s COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said on Friday.

The government has changed Medicines Regulations to allow more health workers to be trained to give vaccinations, to lend a hand as the country moves to the next phase of the biggest vaccination campaign in its history, Hipkins said in a statement.

The government is calling on retired nurses, people who have been trained overseas but are not registered here, and those who work in the health system already in roles such as healthcare assistants to join the vaccinator team, the minister said.

More than 12,500 people with a wide range of backgrounds, including many ex-health professionals, have already logged their details in the Hands-Up database, which is designed to capture a broad range of skills and backgrounds for different roles, he said.

“We anticipate many of the former health professionals who have entered their details into Hands-Up will be keen to become involved in the vaccination program,” the minister said, adding all new recruits will receive training through the Immunization Advisory Center and will work under the supervision and direction of registered health practitioners.

New Zealand will likely need between 6,000 to 6,500 people vaccinating in part or full-time roles, Hipkins said. Enditem