New Zealand expects to vaccinate border workers within two to three weeks, followed by their household contacts, with the first batch of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine set to arrive in the country next week, announced Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern today.

"Health care and essential workers and those most at risk from COVID-19 will follow in quarter two [April to June], before vaccination of the wider population in the second half of the year."

COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said systems and processes were in place for the first vaccinations to start once final checks had been completed.

“On arrival, the vaccine must be independently tested for quality assurance, which is another important safety check. The doses will then be formally released to start the first phase of the vaccination programme.”

“At this stage, we are expecting to start offering the vaccine to our border and MIQ workers on 20 February, with the first immunisations given out to those working in the Auckland region,” he said.

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine requires two doses and must be stored at -70 degrees centigrade.

He said, further deliveries to New Zealand were anticipated through quarter one (January to March) from Pfizer.