Covid-19: freedoms are shrinking for the unvaccinated

People who refuse to be vaccinated against Covid-19 will soon have their freedoms curtailed as the government seeks expert advice on whether it can move the nation to the new traffic light system earlier than indicated.

The new system offers better protection than the alert level system because it prevents the unvaccinated from going to places where Covid typically spreads like cafes, bars and other crowded places, said the chief executive of Health, Dr Ashley Bloomfield, in an update on the response to the pandemic. in Wellington on Tuesday.

“One of the important things here is the ability to reduce the likelihood of super spreader type events and spread parameters where we know the virus is spreading. This is where the new Covid protection framework is really important because it prevents unvaccinated people from accessing the kind of settings where you are likely to see spread. “

The government is seek advice from health experts on whether the country can enter the framework before each district health board vaccinated 90 percent of the eligible population with two doses. This rate now stands at 80 percent nationally.

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It also launched its new vaccine pass on Wednesday, a QR code allowing sites to check if a person has been vaccinated against Covid-19, which will come into effect under the new traffic light system.

About 90 percent of people aged 12 and over have received a dose of the vaccine across the country, but it is only 83 and 84 percent in Tairawhiti and Whanganui district health boards, respectively. Meanwhile, 222 new community cases were reported on Tuesday – the highest daily pandemic total.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said a decision on the Auckland border would come on Wednesday, but the decision to move oversight to the traffic light system will not be made until November 29. Its three district health councils have passed the 90% mark for the vaccine. first doses.

“We have to allow the Aucklanders, who have done the heavy lifting for New Zealand, to be able to travel in time for Christmas and summer,” she said.

Vaccination mandates have already entered into force for education, health and correctional staff, while workers in reception and close contact companies using vaccination certificates are to be mandated for vaccination in part of the traffic light system.

It sets the levels green, amber and red, giving more freedom to the vaccinated and using the My Vaccine Pass vaccine certificate to limit places where staff and clients are not vaccinated, making it a powerful motivation for people get vaccinated.

The introduction of vaccine passes will prevent the unvaccinated from entering many bars, restaurants and venues and even the lowest level of greenery, face restrictions on the number of guests allowed at their weddings and funeral.

Data from the Ministry of Health shows that cases and hospitalizations increase when fewer people are vaccinated.

He used two 10,000-person scenarios – one where 50 percent are vaccinated and one where 90 percent are vaccinated.

In both scenarios, those vaccinated may still contract the virus and need hospital care, but at a lower rate when more people are vaccinated.

In the first scenario, where 50% are vaccinated, only 375 of the vaccinated group would contract the virus, and 13 of them would have to be hospitalized. But of the 5,000 who were not vaccinated, 2,500 – half – would catch the virus and 250 would have to go to hospital. In total there are 2875 cases and 263 hospitalizations.

In the second scenario, at a 90% vaccination rate, only 675 vaccinated people would contract the virus and 23 would need hospital care. These are more people, but a lower overall proportion. Among the unvaccinated, a group of 1,000 people, half would catch the virus and 50 would have to go to hospital. In total, it would be 1,175 cases of Covid and 73 hospitalizations.

Bloomfield said fully vaccinated people were also 32 times less likely to die from Covid-19 than those unvaccinated, based on UK data.