7. Question No. 7—COVID-19 ResponseCHRIS BISHOP (National) to the Minister for COVID-19 ResponseQuestion No. 7—COVID-19 Response7. CHRIS BISHOP (National) to the Minister for COVID-19 Response: Have any of the planning and delivery groups listed on the Ministry of Health website as giving strategic advice and guidance for COVID-19 vaccines given advice on using Novavax as a booster vaccine dose to the current Pfizer vaccine and what is the Government's current policy on deploying booster doses for the COVID-19 vaccine programme?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister for COVID-19 Response): No decisions have been taken on the need for or the best way to deliver booster shots against COVID-19. The Ministry of Health and our technical experts are closely monitoring any emerging evidence for the need for a booster campaign. The Government's current approach is to ensure that we have a portfolio of options ready to support a booster campaign should it be deemed necessary. Novavax is one of those options as is Pfizer and we are in discussions with others.Chris Bishop: So can he confirm that none of the delivery groups on the ministry website that support the vaccine roll-out such as the COVID-19 Immunisation Programme Governance Group or the COVID-19 Vaccine and Immunisation Programme Steering Group have provided advice on using Novavax as a booster?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: No they have not provided advice on that. No decision has been taken. As I indicated in my primary answer they are still monitoring international evidence and international research about the need for a booster campaign. Very few countries have made a firm decision at this point to start administering booster doses. Most countries are as New Zealand is ensuring that they have options should a booster campaign be desired.Chris Bishop: Why then did the Dominion Post and stuff.co.nz report yesterday that Novavax was quote—SPEAKER: Because the member's getting close to running out of questions I'm going to ask him to start his question again. There just can't be responsibility from this Minister for why a newspaper reports something.Chris Bishop: OK. Is he aware of why stuff.co.nz reported yesterday that Novavax was firming as the vaccine the New Zealand Government will use for a programme of COVID-19 booster shots" in light of his answer just now that the Government's own vaccine planning groups haven't recommended it as a booster?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I was asked by Stuff what the status of our discussions with Novavax was. I confirmed to them that we have an advance purchase agreement with Novavax; that we have the ability to source doses of Novavax in the first quarter of next year should it be required for a booster campaign; and that the preliminary information that we're getting and it is just ongoing discussions from our technical experts is that they think that Novavax is shaping up well as an option for New Zealand. But no decisions have been made.Chris Bishop: Is he aware of why members of the Government's own expert advisory groups found out via the media that Novavax was "firming" as the vaccine the New Zealand Government will use for boosters when it hasn't been approved by Medsafe yet—in fact hasn't been approved by any country around the world?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I think the member clearly hasn't listened to the previous answers that I've given. No decision has been taken by the Government on whether or not to use Novavax but I do note that earlier in the year the member was criticising the Government for not purchasing vaccines until they'd been approved by Medsafe and not securing delivery of those doses until they'd been approved by Medsafe and now he seems to be criticising us for doing the opposite."