As the country braces for a surge in Omicron cases, staff and residents at aged care facilities have now received their Covid-19 boosters. The booster rollout has been completed in all District Health Boards.
Associate Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall said completing the rollout meant aged care facilities were “well-prepared” for the Omicron outbreak.
“Older New Zealanders living in aged care facilities are some of the most vulnerable groups,” she said.
“The most important thing anyone, including seniors, can do to protect themselves and their loved ones is get boosted. That’s why we rolled out boosters to older New Zealanders early.”
Ninety-nine percent of people over the age of 65 have received two doses of the vaccine and 85 percent have now been boosted.
Verrall said testing in aged care facilities would be bolstered as New Zealand moved to phase two of the Government’s Omicron response. Anyone working or living in these facilities with symptoms will be prioritised for a PCR test to protect high risk residents, she said.
“On top of that, from Phase Two, aged residential care facilities are able to test asymptomatic visitors using rapid antigen tests.”
