The Ministry of Health is discussing whether to reduce the wait time for COVID-19 booster shots amid concerns over the new Omicron variant.
On Sunday, Australia shortened the wait time for booster shots from six months to five after a rise in Omicron cases.
It's still unknown how bad the new variant is but it's believed to be more infectious and is spreading across the globe.
Booster vaccines in New Zealand are currently available six months after the second dose. The rollout began just over two weeks ago with 156,472 people already receiving one. Most people who are eligible for booster shots include border and healthcare workers who were vaccinated at the start of the pandemic.
Ministry of Health Chief Science Advisor Dr Ian Town told Newshub the booster rollout and new variant will be discussed this month.
"Data on the impact of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) on vaccination is still emerging.
"Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself against the virus. The emerging data on the effect the Omicron variant may have on the Pfizer vaccine will be discussed at the COVID-19 Vaccine Technical Advisory Group on 14 December," Dr Town said.
It comes as the World Health Organization urges wealthy countries to stop booster rollouts.
The WHO says booster doses would be better off going into the arms of the unvaccinated in places like Africa to stop more variants like Omicron from emerging.
But boosters also appear to be the difference between a mild or deadly fourth wave in countries around the world.
