A law change is set to streamline the process for allowing COVID-19 boosters to be given to patients without a prescription.
Health Minister, Andrew Little said the changes made to the Medicines Act were a more enduring way to manage the administration of vaccine boosters into the future.
“The Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 Vaccine Technical Advisory Group recommended that people who are at high risk of getting very sick from a COVID-19 infection should have a second booster six months after the first,” Mr Little said.
“The changes we have made today mean that the Director-General of Health now has the ability to make boosters available to those who need them, meaning people don’t need an individual prescription to get one.”
The said that later this week, the Director-General of Health will confirm who will be eligible to receive a second booster.
