New Zealand's COVID-19 vaccination programme will cost $1.4 billion, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins has confirmed for the first time.
The investment has been allocated over two years, to ensure every New Zealander is vaccinated against COVID-19 with the Pfizer-BioNTech jab.
More than $1 billion has been allocated for purchasing vaccines and specialist equipment, while $964.3 million is for manufacturer advance purchase agreements and to support equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.
The combined cost of technology to support the rollout, funding for District Health Boards (DHBs), ongoing support for medicine regulator Medsafe, and standing up community immunisation centres, is $356.9 million.
The remaining $66.3 million will go towards purchasing syringes and related vaccine storage facilities and transport.
"This is a massive investment to continue support for what is the biggest single undertaking the health system has ever faced," Hipkins said on Wednesday.
"In addition to the $1.4 billion, $30 million has gone into vaccine research and the potential for domestic manufacturing and $75 million for Official Development Assistance funding to support Pacific and global vaccine access.
"We're closely monitoring the programme to ensure it's as effective and efficient as it can be and so we can prepare to support annual immunisation programmes in future to maintain the ground we have gained."
