Monday will mark the day Kiwis will be able to get their booster shots if they've been fully vaccinated for six months or more.
The Ministry of Health said that the priority will still be on getting people fully vaccinated, but fully vaccinated healthcare, border workers and kaumātua are now able to get their third shot of the vaccine.
"Vaccination is the best protection against COVID-19," Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said.
"Booster doses will be available free for anyone in New Zealand aged 18 or older who has completed their two-dose course more than six months ago.
"We're particularly keen to make sure our healthcare and border workers - who are most at risk of coming in contact with COVID-19, and older people including kaumātua and those in residential care are aware that boosters are available from Monday, and that they're eligible if they completed their course of Pfizer more than six months ago."
The Ministry said they're working hard to make access to booster shots simple and readily available all around the country.
"Work is already happening around the motu to ensure boosters are available in the same way your normal two shots are available - at vaccination sites, GPs and pharmacies, and on-site in aged residential care facilities (ARCs)," Dr Bloomfield said.
Bloomfield says DHBs are working hard to reach those who were in the early priority groups of the vaccine rollout, particularly border and healthcare workers, older Māori and Pacific people, and those in ARC.
Bay of Plenty DHB will begin its booster programme among ARC residents, with the aim to administer around 2,000 doses by Christmas.
Down south, Southern DHB is working with local Māori and Pasifika providers to ensure over 65s in their communities get the opportunity to receive a booster dose.
"People will be able to access boosters in New Zealand, whether they received their earlier doses here or overseas," Dr Bloomfield said.
"The Pfizer vaccine will be used for boosters, regardless of which vaccine was used for earlier doses.
"There's no need to rush to get the booster. The science shows fully vaccinated people remain really well protected from infection, and from being seriously ill if they do get COVID-19. There is plenty of existing stock of the Pfizer vaccine in New Zealand and this will not run out.
"And while the booster programme is an important next step in our pandemic response, increasing the vaccination coverage of first and second doses, particularly for Māori, Pacific and disabled communities, remains our number one priority in our nationwide vaccination rollout, particularly with COVID in the community and as new strains emerge," said Dr Bloomfield.
