Chris Bishop is tilting at Covid windmills
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12:35 pm, May 26th, 2021 - 32 comments
Categories: chris bishop, covid-19, health, national, same old national -
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Right now, in terms of our Covid response, New Zealand is in a unique position. It has no community spread of Covid and its level of restrictions is the most permissive in the world.
Some of the other nations are not doing so well.
Melbourne has had another outbreak. Nine cases within three families have appeared within the past couple of days. And one of the cases attended an AFL game with 23,000 other Victorians. This is potentially the stuff of nightmares.
Taiwan has dramatically fallen off its perch as having the world’s best response to the virus. New case numbers have spiked to 400 a day.
Japan is struggling to hold the spread of the virus as the Olympics beckon.
Fiji has had 18 new cases and is also on the verge of losing control.
And another former top performer, Singapore, is also struggling to hold the virus back.
It is clear that unless you are on top of your game, and have a science based approach as well as a bit of luck you will be in trouble.
Some on the right suggest that our position is all to do with luck. We are an island nation removed from the rest of the world. Last time I checked Australia, Japan, Fiji and Taiwan were also island nations. Geographic remoteness helps but clearly more than that is required.
Our continuing good fortune is shown in this stringency index graph.
And it is also shown in this new confirmed cases graph.
All of our cases from the past few months have been located in quarantine.
So what does an opposition do?
How about complaining that the Government is trying to squeeze too many vaccines out of a vial. From TVNZ:
The Ministry of Health is being questioned over whether it’s following official guidelines with the Covid-19 vaccine.Some vaccinators have been able to extract more than the recommended number of doses from a single vial.
Pfizer guidelines state that each vial contains up to six doses and each dose must contain 0.3 millilitres of the vaccine.
Any leftover less than that should be discarded.
It also notes not to mix remaining vaccine from multiple vials .
However, some vaccinators are getting a full extra dose with the use of a specific needle.
“Those new needles have allowed us to get in some cases seven doses out of each vial which is great, it means we can stretch them even further,” Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield says.
But Bish is clearly happy to take on the person most influential in getting us to our current situation:
National questions whether that goes beyond what’s been approved.
“The issue here is that Pfizer’s official recommendation is to take five or six doses only, if it’s technically possible to take seven then Pfizer should say so,” National’s Covid-19 response spokesperson Chris Bishop says.
…
“The concern with getting seven is that there may be some people who haven’t got the exact right amount of dosage that they’re meant to get,” Bishop said.
I would be happy to leave this one to the experts. They have managed things well so far despite everything the opposition has thrown at them.
32 comments on “Chris Bishop is tilting at Covid windmills ”
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- Release: Time to call time on greyhound racingThe Labour Party is calling on the Government to ban greyhound racing. ...3 weeks ago
- Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...19 hours ago - Removing red tape to help early learners thriveThe Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...22 hours ago
- McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationshipTrade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...1 day ago
- Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister LeePrime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...1 day ago
- PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ tiesPrime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...2 days ago
- Antarctica New Zealand Board appointmentsForeign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...2 days ago
- Finance Minister travels to Washington DCFinance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...2 days ago
- Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlordsThe coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...2 days ago
- Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being consideredState Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...2 days ago
- New Zealand condemns Iranian strikesPrime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel. “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says. "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...2 days ago
- Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plansHundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...5 days ago
- Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand ChairHealth Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board. “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti. “I have asked her to ...5 days ago
- Roads of National Significance planning underwayThe NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...5 days ago
- Navigating an unstable global environmentNew Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States. “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...5 days ago
- NZ welcomes Australian Governor-GeneralPrime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...5 days ago
- Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for WinterAssociate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...5 days ago
- NZ and the US: an ever closer partnershipNew Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...5 days ago
- Joint US and NZ declarationApril 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...5 days ago
- NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperationForeign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research. “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...5 days ago
- Government redress for Te Korowai o WainuiāruaThe Government is continuing the bipartisan effort to restore its relationship with iwi as the Te Korowai o Wainuiārua Claims Settlement Bill passed its first reading in Parliament today, says Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith. “Historical grievances of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua relate to 19th century warfare, land purchased or taken ...6 days ago
- Focus on outstanding minerals permit applicationsNew Zealand Petroleum and Minerals is working to resolve almost 150 outstanding minerals permit applications by the end of the financial year, enabling valuable mining activity and signalling to the sector that New Zealand is open for business, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “While there are no set timeframes for ...6 days ago
- Applications open for NZ-Ireland Research CallThe New Zealand and Irish governments have today announced that applications for the 2024 New Zealand-Ireland Joint Research Call on Agriculture and Climate Change are now open. This is the third research call in the three-year Joint Research Initiative pilot launched in 2022 by the Ministry for Primary Industries and Ireland’s ...6 days ago
- Tenancy rules changes to improve rental marketThe coalition Government has today announced changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to encourage landlords back to the rental property market, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “The previous Government waged a war on landlords. Many landlords told us this caused them to exit the rental market altogether. It caused worse ...6 days ago
- Boosting NZ’s trade and agricultural relationship with ChinaTrade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay will visit China next week, to strengthen relationships, support Kiwi exporters and promote New Zealand businesses on the world stage. “China is one of New Zealand’s most significant trade and economic relationships and remains an important destination for New Zealand’s products, accounting for nearly 22 per cent of our good and ...6 days ago
- Freshwater farm plan systems to be improvedThe coalition Government intends to improve freshwater farm plans so that they are more cost-effective and practical for farmers, Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay have announced. “A fit-for-purpose freshwater farm plan system will enable farmers and growers to find the right solutions for their farm ...7 days ago
- New Fast Track Projects advisory group namedThe coalition Government has today announced the expert advisory group who will provide independent recommendations to Ministers on projects to be included in the Fast Track Approvals Bill, say RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones. “Our Fast Track Approval process will make it easier and ...7 days ago
- Pacific and Gaza focus of UN talksForeign Minister Winston Peters says his official talks with the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York today focused on a shared commitment to partnering with the Pacific Islands region and a common concern about the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. “Small states in the Pacific rely on collective ...1 week ago
- Government honours Taranaki Maunga dealThe Government is honouring commitments made to Taranaki iwi with the Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill passing its first reading Parliament today, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “This Bill addresses the commitment the Crown made to the eight iwi of Taranaki to negotiate ...1 week ago
- Enhanced partnership to reduce agricultural emissionsThe Government and four further companies are together committing an additional $18 million towards AgriZeroNZ to boost New Zealand’s efforts to reduce agricultural emissions. Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says the strength of the New Zealand economy relies on us getting effective and affordable emission reduction solutions for New Zealand. “The ...1 week ago
- 110km/h limit proposed for Kāpiti ExpresswayTransport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) will begin consultation this month on raising speed limits for the Kāpiti Expressway to 110km/h. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and this proposal supports that outcome ...1 week ago
- New Zealand Biosecurity Awards – Winners announcedTwo New Zealanders who’ve used their unique skills to help fight the exotic caulerpa seaweed are this year’s Biosecurity Awards Supreme Winners, says Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard. “Strong biosecurity is vital and underpins the whole New Zealand economy and our native flora and fauna. These awards celebrate all those in ...1 week ago
- Attendance action plan to lift student attendance ratesThe Government is taking action to address the truancy crisis and raise attendance by delivering the attendance action plan, Associate Education Minister David Seymour announced today. New Zealand attendance rates are low by national and international standards. Regular attendance, defined as being in school over 90 per cent of the ...1 week ago
- World must act to halt Gaza catastrophe – PetersForeign Minister Winston Peters has told the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York today that an immediate ceasefire is needed in Gaza to halt the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe. “Palestinian civilians continue to bear the brunt of Israel’s military actions,” Mr Peters said in his speech to a ...1 week ago
- Speech to United Nations General Assembly: 66th plenary meeting, 78th sessionMr President, The situation in Gaza is an utter catastrophe. New Zealand condemns Hamas for its heinous terrorist attacks on 7 October and since, including its barbaric violations of women and children. All of us here must demand that Hamas release all remaining hostages immediately. At the ...1 week ago
- Government woolshed roadshow kicks offToday the Government Agriculture Ministers started their national woolshed roadshow, kicking off in the Wairarapa. Agriculture Minister Todd McClay said it has been a tough time for farmers over the past few years. The sector has faced high domestic inflation rates, high interest rates, adverse weather events, and increasing farm ...1 week ago
- PM heads to Singapore, Thailand, and PhilippinesPrime Minister Christopher Luxon will travel to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines this week (April 14-20), along with a senior business delegation, signalling the Government’s commitment to deepen New Zealand’s international engagement, especially our relationships in South East Asia. “South East Asia is a region that is more crucial than ever to ...1 week ago
- Prime Minister launches Government TargetsPrime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced further steps to get New Zealand back on track, launching nine ambitious Government Targets to help improve the lives of New Zealanders. “Our Government has a plan that is focused on three key promises we made to New Zealanders – to rebuild the economy, ...1 week ago
- Natural hydrogen resource should be free of Treaty claims entanglementNatural hydrogen could be a game-changing new source of energy for New Zealand but it is essential it is treated as a critical development that benefits all New Zealanders, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones is seeking to give regulatory certainty for those keen to develop natural, or geological, ...1 week ago
- Government responds to unsustainable net migration...1 week ago
- New Zealand on stage at global Space SymposiumSpace Minister Judith Collins will speak at the Space Symposium in the United States next week, promoting New Zealand’s rapidly growing place in the sector as we work to rebuild the economy. “As one of the largest global space events, attended by more than 10,000 business and government representatives from ...1 week ago
- Stuff takes a big risk on Newshub
The bosses of Stuff and TV3 have been lauding their newly minted deal as a win for democracy and something to celebrate during a grim period for local media. While it is true that a slimmed down news service on Three is better than nothing, it is hardly strengthening our ...33 mins ago - Abuse of MPs increased to 98% in 2022 – study
Harassment of MPs increased on nearly every measure over eight years, with 98 percent now reporting some kind of harassment, a study has found. ...1 hour ago - Public service cuts: Number of job losses set to rise to more than 2000Oranga Tamariki and the Ministry of Education are to make announcements about their plans for meeting demands to save money. ...1 hour ago
- Massey takes risk in bid for international studentsCash-strapped Massey University is taking a risk in Singapore, as it looks for ways to claw back lucrative international students The post Massey takes risk in bid for international students appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 hour ago
- Could Te Kuha coal mine be a candidate for ‘goodbye Freddy’?Expert evidence gathered over years shows what might be lost if a proposed West Coast coal mine gets Government approval The post Could Te Kuha coal mine be a candidate for ‘goodbye Freddy’? appeared first on Newsroom. ...1 hour ago
- Why aren’t vulnerable babies being protected from RSV in Aotearoa?
Each year, hundreds of New Zealand babies are hospitalised with this common respiratory virus, and health experts are concerned that preventative drugs used overseas are not being funded here. As winter approaches and people spend more time indoors, respiratory viruses start circulating. One common bug is RSV, or respiratory syncytial ...2 hours ago - Australia’s cash availability crisis creating an NZ monopolyHit by low demand for physical money, Australian cash-in-transit giant Armaguard is selling its NZ wing after rejecting an A$26m bailout The post Australia’s cash availability crisis creating an NZ monopoly appeared first on Newsroom. ...2 hours ago
- What the Post Office scandal can teach the Christchurch attacks inquiryOpinion: It only needs one person to stand up against injustice, but it requires a culture of inquiry for the truth to come out The post What the Post Office scandal can teach the Christchurch attacks inquiry appeared first on Newsroom. ...2 hours ago
- Health education contracts on the chopping blockPharmac has opted not the renew the contract for educational resource He Ako Hiringa The post Health education contracts on the chopping block appeared first on Newsroom. ...2 hours ago
- Olympic sailor doubles as Am Cup gamerAs a kid, Erica Dawson never owned one of those annoying little Tamagotchi digital pets. As a teen, she wasn’t the slightest bit interested in home video games and wasn’t addicted to playing Angry Birds on her phone, either. But now, on the cusp of entering her 30s, Dawson has ...2 hours ago
- Daily crossword, Wednesday 17 AprilThe post Daily crossword, Wednesday 17 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...2 hours ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Wednesday 17 AprilLoading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Wednesday 17 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...2 hours ago
- From colour to climate change – a scientist’s journeyOpinion: I find myself now spending most of my academic retirement period explaining the science behind climate change to my local communities. What was the life journey that brought me to this role? As a young child I remember being fascinated first thing in the morning by the pure blues ...2 hours ago
- The dark side of the beauty industryThere is nothing to stop someone from buying a laser machine online and setting up a shop offering treatments for skin. Or injecting derma filler into a client’s face. No qualifications are needed for either treatment, but when it goes wrong the results can be life changing, even life threatening. ...2 hours ago
- Govt urged to protect seabirds on the brink of extinctionAlbatross are being accidentally caught and killed by NZ fishing vessels at a rate 350 percent higher than previously reported The post Govt urged to protect seabirds on the brink of extinction appeared first on Newsroom. ...2 hours ago
- 14 (!) crucial questions about Stuff replacing Newshub, asked and (mostly) answeredBased on interviews with the heads of Stuff and Warner Bros Discovery, along with staff across both organisations, Duncan Greive presents an in-depth primer on the biggest news media deal in years. With additional reporting by Stewart Sowman-Lund Why did Stuff win out over NZME? This is in many ways ...2 hours ago
- Critical minerals receive multi-million dollar support under Future Made in Australia policy
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Two major critical minerals projects in Queensland and South Australia are to receive hundreds of millions of dollars in federal government loans as part of the Albanese government’s new Future Made in Australia policy. ...5 hours ago - Water theft laws and penalties in the Murray-Darling Basin are a dog’s breakfast. Here’s how we ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam James Loch, Associate Professor, University of Adelaide Water is one of Australia’s most valuable commodities. Rights to take water from our nation’s largest river system, the Murray-Darling Basin, are worth almost A$100 billion. These rights can be bought and sold or ...8 hours ago
- Massey University signs agreement confirming plan to set up Singapore branchMassey University says its Singapore campus will provide education services to students who do not want to study in New Zealand. ...9 hours ago
- After a second knife attack in Sydney, how can parents talk to their kids and help them feel safe?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elizabeth Westrupp, Associate Professor in Psychology, Deakin University In the space of three days, there have been two devastating knife attacks in Sydney. Your child may have seen these on the news or social media. Or they might be hearing about it ...11 hours ago
- Why is the Sydney church stabbing an act of terrorism, but the Bondi tragedy isn’t?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Greg Barton, Chair in Global Islamic Politics, Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University Just days after the deadly Westfield Bondi attacks, a second knife attack in Sydney has generated widespread shock and grief. This time, a 16-year-old entered an ...11 hours ago
- Masses of scalloped hammerheads have returned to one of Australia’s busiest beaches. But we don’...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Olaf Meynecke, Research Fellow in Marine Science and Manager Whales & Climate Program, Griffith University A juvenile hammerhead at Burleigh Beach, watched by snorkellers Olaf Meynecke, CC BY-NC-ND For the second year in a row, over 100 hammerheads have gathered at one ...12 hours ago
- Have New Zealanders been misled about AUKUS, is involvement a foregone conclusion?Analysis - New Zealand involvement in pillar two of the military deal would represent a seismic shift. ...12 hours ago
- How the Lehrmann v Channel 10 defamation case shone an unflattering light on commercial news gatheri...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Denis Muller, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Advancing Journalism, The University of Melbourne Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson’s victory in the defamation action brought against them by Bruce Lehrmann is the second big win inside a year for the Australian media using ...13 hours ago
- Pharmacists should be able to dispense nicotine vapes without a prescription. Here’s whySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Coral Gartner, Director, NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence on Achieving the Tobacco Endgame, The University of Queensland Zamrznuti tonovi/Shutterstock The Australian government is currently considering a bill to implement the next stage of reforms to vaping regulation. At present, vaping products ...13 hours ago
- For 600 years the Voynich manuscript has remained a mystery. Now we think it’s partly about sexSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Keagan Brewer, Macquarie University Research Fellow, Macquarie University Yale University Library The Voynich manuscript has long puzzled and fascinated historians and the public. This late-medieval document is covered in illustrations of stars and planets, plants, zodiac symbols, naked women, and blue ...14 hours ago
- Can AI read our minds? Probably not, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be worriedSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sam Baron, Associate Professor, Philosophy of Science, The University of Melbourne Iconic Bestiary / Shutterstock Earlier this year, Neuralink implanted a chip inside the brain of 29-year-old US man Noland Arbaugh, who is paralysed from the shoulders down. The chip has ...15 hours ago
- 5 reasons why the Fast-track Approvals Bill threatens NZ’s already fragile ecosystemsSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Margaret Stanley, Professor of Ecology, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images Conservation “good news” stories – the release of native birds into new habitats, for example – are always welcome. They recognise the work of conservation staff and volunteers ...15 hours ago
- Stuff to provide news bulletins to replace Newshub on ThreeBy Colin Peacock, RNZ Mediawatch presenter Warner Bros Discovery has done a deal with Stuff to provide news to replace Newshub. It will keep news on TV channel Three from July 6 and help Three retain some viewers. It also means important income for Stuff, but it will also stretch ...15 hours ago
- Stuck in fight-or-flight mode? 5 ways to complete the ‘stress cycle’ and avoid burnout or depres...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Theresa Larkin, Associate professor of Medical Sciences, University of Wollongong Shutterstock Can you remember a time when you felt stressed leading up to a big life event and then afterwards felt like a weight had been lifted? This process – the ...16 hours ago
- Ministry of Education job cuts may affect school lunch programmeThere is concern the team delivering the programme could be halved, while RNZ has also been told it will be "decimated". ...16 hours ago
- From forced kisses to power imbalances, violence against women in sport is endemicSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Fiona Giles, Research Fellow, La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University Former Spanish football federation chief Luis Rubiales may face significant consequences for his non-consensual kiss of Spanish soccer star Jenni Hermoso. But this is not the norm for perpetrators ...16 hours ago
- As China’s influence on Pacific media intensifies, Australia can’t afford to lose the region’s...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lucy Morieson, Lecturer in Politics and Communication , RMIT University When the people of Solomon Islands go to the polls on Wednesday, they will be voting for more than just a new prime minister. The election will also be a referendum on ...16 hours ago
- The best moments from the outrageous final episodes of MAFS AUFrom the Jono and Ellie bombshell to the return of Collins, we look at back at the final episodes of Married at First Sight Australia 2024. When John Aiken told us back in February that we were in for a “quite shocking” season of Married at First Sight Australia, little ...16 hours ago
- Expanding Coal Mining In 21st Century An “absurd, Selfish Decision” Says WWF
Resources Minister Shane Jones announced today that the Government will ease the consenting process for setting up new coal mines or expanding existing ones. ...17 hours ago - The Boy in the Water nominated for best podcastNewsroom has received five nominations for the 2024 Voyager Media Awards, including best podcast for Melanie Reid’s popular nine-part in depth investigation The Boy in the Water. ReadingRoom’s Steve Braunias has been nominated for best columnist, opinion or critique, and Aaron Smale is up for the Te Tohu Kairangi award. ...17 hours ago
- Watch: Christopher Luxon faces questions in SingaporeThe Prime Minister is speaking to media on his second day of a tour around South East Asia. ...17 hours ago
- Watch live: Christopher Luxon faces questions in SingaporeThe Prime Minister is speaking to media on his second day of a tour around South East Asia. ...18 hours ago
- How The Lost Boys of Dilworth brought a ‘horrendous nightmare’ to lifeAlex Casey talks to the makers of TVNZ’s new docudrama retelling the stories of Dilworth survivors. This story contains reference to sexual abuse, please take care. When she first saw the child actors that would be playing the young versions of Dilworth survivors, Mary Durham nearly burst into tears on ...18 hours ago
- Pro-independence activist issues dire warning to France over Kanaky New CaledoniaBy Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist A pro-independence activist in New Caledonia is warning France to immediately halt its planned constitution amendments or face “war”. The call for a u-turn follows proposed constitutional changes to voting rights which could push the number of eligible anti-independence voters up. Pacific Independence Movement ...18 hours ago
- The last days of motorsport at Pukekohe Park Raceway | Checkered Flag | The SpinoffIn the final months of the Pukekohe Park Raceway, the father and daughter duo managing the grassroots racecourse want to give everyone a last chance to go fast. This asphalt has been a part of New Zealand’s motorsport community and history for 60 years. Checkered Flag is made with the ...18 hours ago
- Watch: David Seymour announces early childhood education centre changesACT's leader read to children while sitting next to a book featuring Jacinda Ardern, before telling reporters the former prime minister was an authoritarian. ...19 hours ago
- Smaller agencies cutting deepest into staffing, data to date showsSmaller agencies are making deepest cuts as they look to save costs, RNZ data shows. ...19 hours ago
- The last days of motorsport at Pukekohe Park RacewayIn Checkered Flag, the father and daughter duo managing the Pukekohe Park Raceway want to give everyone one last chance to go fast before its closure. Since it opened in 1962, the Pukekohe Park Raceway has hosted the New Zealand Grand Prix, the Tasman Series, and Supercar Championships as ...19 hours ago
- Labour Productivity Falls 0.9 PercentLabour productivity fell 0.9 percent in the year ended March 2023, according to figures released by Stats NZ today. The 0.9 percent fall in labour productivity was the largest fall since 2009. It follows a rise of 1.0 percent in the year ended March ...20 hours ago
- Shane Jones Throws A Lump Of Coal To The Mining LobbyistsCoal Action Network Aotearoa (CANA), the national organisation campaigning for an end to coal mining and coal use, says Resources Minister Shane Jones needs to understand the world has moved on from the industrial revolution, and coal - and siding with ...20 hours ago
- Jeepers creepers: the climbing cost of climate change compoundsKiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr explains what effect climate change will have on inflation, housing and policy – and whether there’s a way out. Climate change. It’s a gigantic force and it’s coming into play at a time when New Zealand is already struggling with inflation. We’ve gone from a ...20 hours ago
- New deal intends to make trade with Singapore simplerCustoms has signed a cooperation agreement with its Singaporean counterpart. ...21 hours ago
- Will pet bonds really be a win-win? I’m not holding my breathMaking it easier for people with pets to find rentals is a good thing. But the pet bonds policy is just one proposal in a suite of many that overwhelmingly favour landlords’ rights, argues Kristin Kelly. Renting in New Zealand, generally speaking, sucks. At the time of the last census, ...21 hours ago
- Shane Jones announces easier coal mine consentingThe Resources Minister says changes to coal mine consenting will reduce barriers to extraction. ...21 hours ago
- How a global crisis, drift racing and Memphis hip-hop gave us phonk – the music of the TikTok gene...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andy Ward, Senior Lecturer in Music, School of Business and Creative Industries, University of the Sunshine Coast Shutterstock What’s that sound you hear – a combination of down-tempo hip-hop, menacing bass, distorted drums and plucky synths? It’s phonk! Still ...22 hours ago
- Watch live: David Seymour announces early childhood education centre changesThe government has announced changes to the ECE sector, which it says will make it easier for new centres to be set up. ...22 hours ago
- The cost of being: A skint student waiting anxiously to start a new jobAs part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a 30-year-old who’s just finished his studies will be breathing a sigh of relief when that first paycheck comes in. Gender: Male Age: 30 Ethnicity: Māori/European Role: Student/trainee, volunteer for a youth organisation. Salary/income/assets: Me: $400pw ...22 hours ago
- Breaking: Stuff wins race to replace Newshub with a new 6pm bulletin for ThreeSources familiar with the deal say the print news giant has beaten out NZME to create a 6pm bulletin to replace Newshub at Three. Less than a week after Three confirmed that its proposal to completely shutter Newshub will be going ahead, it will today confirm that Stuff has won ...22 hours ago
- Can playing Tetris help prevent PTSD if you’ve witnessed something traumatic?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daniel Bressington, Professor in Mental Health, Charles Darwin University In the wake of witnessing tragic events, many people turn to online communities such as Reddit to discuss and process their experiences. A common bit of advice users give each other is to ...22 hours ago
- Have New Zealanders really been ‘misled’ about AUKUS, or is involvement now a foregone conclusio...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marco de Jong, Lecturer, Law School, Auckland University of Technology Getty Images When former prime minister Helen Clark spoke out against New Zealand potentially compromising its independent foreign policy by joining pillar two of the AUKUS security pact, foreign minister ...22 hours ago
- With democracy under threat in Narendra Modi’s India, how free and fair will this year’s electio...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Priya Chacko, Associate Professor, International Politics, University of Adelaide India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, is favoured to win reelection when India’s 970 million voters start heading to the polls on April 19 in the country’s massive, six-week general election. Modi, who has ...22 hours ago
- What happens when I stop taking a drug like Ozempic or Mounjaro?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Natasha Yates, General Practitioner, PhD Candidate, Bond University Diva Plavalaguna/Pexels Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide are taking drugs like Ozempic to lose weight. But what do we actually know about them? This month, The Conversation’s experts explore their rise, ...22 hours ago
- Climate change is causing marine ‘coldwaves’ too, killing wildlifeSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicolas Benjamin Lubitz, Researcher in marine ecology, James Cook University Ryan Daly The effects of ocean warming are profound and well-documented. But sometimes changes in the patterns of winds and ocean currents cause seawater to suddenly cool, instead. Surface temperatures ...22 hours ago
- Our research suggests eating an unhealthy breakfast could have a similar effect on your child’s sc...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew J. Martin, Scientia Professor and Professor of Educational Psychology, UNSW Sydney Haley Owens/Unsplash, CC BY Many parents know it is important for their teenagers to have breakfast before they go to school. Even though young people can be reluctant ...22 hours ago
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Bishop is just trying to make out he's relevant. The funny thing is for him to be on about trying to get too many vaccines out of a vial.
Is that a case of a useless prick complaining about useful pricks?😊
He's trying to get under the government's skin but he'll have to try another vein as his needle is, to put it bluntly, not even superficial………
Scary though about the virus in Victoria, and here is hoping those coming to NZ do watch their health and react quickly. Let us hope no asymptomatic cases come over to ski.
NZ National has a vaccine specialist as well as a General Practitioner in their Parliamentary ranks?
The main element of luck or good fortune NZ has had so far during COVID–is surely that National was not, and is not, the Government!
Going by various media statements from the Nats the country closed borders too soon, not soon enough, Travel bubbles should have started sooner, foreign students admitted sooner with their MI conducted on campus…migrant workers admitted sooner etc.
Many more than 26 New Zealanders would likely have died to date from COVID if National’s more permissive line on borders, lockdowns, isolation and mask wearing had prevailed.
https://twitter.com/US_FDA/status/1339363304825905152
I have to admit to a degree of surprise last night when I learnt that there are 4/5/6 or 7 doses in each vial.
Not sure why, but I figured it would be one dose, one vial.
Nope, the manufacturer’s label says five doses. There was some confusion whether this meant that the left over needed to be discarded but FDA (and others) cleared that up with the manufacturer (see Tweet). Under certain circumstances, it is possible to get seven full doses from one vial. Each shot needs to be 0.3 mL (30 µg) and the total volume is ca. 2.25 mL, which leaves a total unused/dead volume of 0.15 mL in the vial, needles & syringes, which is tight and supa economical/efficient.
0.3mL = 300 uL
If the specific density is 1, then 0.3mL = 300 µg
A 300 µL (0.3 mL) injected dose of the COVID-19 vaccine contains 30 µg of the active component (mRNA). The rest is lipids, salts (including pH buffer salts), sugar (sucrose) and, of course, water.
https://www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org/HealthU/2021/01/11/a-simple-breakdown-of-the-ingredients-in-the-covid-vaccines/
https://www.pfizer.co.nz/sites/pfizer.co.nz/files/g10063121/f/202102/NZCMICONSUMER.pdf
https://theconversation.com/4-things-about-mrna-covid-vaccines-researchers-still-want-to-find-out-154160
Ahh. Got it.
I (now) understand all that.
It says to me plenty of chances for human error. I am familiar with how some nurses do drug calcs, part intuition, a dash of witchcraft and a skerrick of luck.
Ah, but these are not just nurses, they are highly trained vaccinators, skilled in the art Covid-19 vaccination.
Seems to be a combination of factors:
Your first point is correct. I am an ex-manufacturing pharmacist and in my experience most, if not all, drug vials are overfilled to some extent.
Has a 6th or 7th vial dose been checked for efficacy compared to a vial 5th dose?
Unnecessary, as they all come from the same solution in the vial. As long as the vial is not left sitting around on the table but used up promptly, all shots should be equally effective. In any case, you get two shots 😉
The whole world has been pulling all the doses they could and administered them without a problem so far. It has been known since last year that one can with the right needle extract at least an extra dose.
Chris Bishop wants to be able to complain that Pfizer are short-serving the government because you can only get six doses from a vial if you use a special needle…
Chris Bishop is full of it. He rates his own importance above any commonsense!
Bishflap had to comment of course:
https://twitter.com/bishflap?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
Remember that time Chris Bishop broke two MIQ returnees out of isolation so they could drive all over the country and potentially infect others?
Ah yes, forgot that Mutton…well reminded.
National continuously crying wolf looses what little traction they had.most people roll their eyes and think what a bunch of complete dicks.
[deleted spurious “k” from user name again]
Mod note for you.
“Some on the right suggest that our position is all to do with luck. We are an island nation removed from the rest of the world. Last time I checked Australia, Japan, Fiji and Taiwan were also island nations.”
Britain is an island….127,000 deaths so far.
Everything Bishop does is in bad faith. The goal is to discredit the government for something/anything (exactly what doesn't matter) so the Nats can get back onto the Treasury benches and let the looting of the public domain for private profit resume.
I was just listeing to the acting Premier in Victoria announcing the new 7 day lockdown. He mentioned his frustration over the speed (or lack thereof) of the vaccine rollout over there, for the very obvious reason that lockdowns will continue until the rollout is complete.
We are in the same place where everyday its a fingers crossed day that this thing doesn't leak out again.
For those who don't care that our vaccine rollout is slow, just look over at Victoria. With it being likely we are probably 12 months away from reaching the 70% vaccinated rate, it almost inevitable we will have the same misfortune at some point.
The outbreak in Melbourne is a worry, but the Victorian government knows what to do.
Covid-19 vaccine rollout in NZ is exceeding DHB targets, and that's running vaccine stocks low. Our Gummit could over-promise, but how/who would that help?
https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-vaccines/covid-19-getting-vaccine/covid-19-vaccine-rollout
The speed is a non-issue at the moment.
Hopefully we don't need to go into another lockdown, but if we do, the speed of that rollout will certainly become an issue.
Self determined low targets rates won't really matter if that scenrio arises.
Speed of rollout depends on vaccine supply. Since no political party or agency in NZ can 'magic up' more doses of pandemic vaccines we're stuck with what we can get, similar to all countries (small and big) that can't mass-manufacture these vaccines.
I'd be interested to know what resources our Government is allocating to acquiring vaccine doses more rapidly, always remembering that the need in some countries is (much) greater and more urgent than our own.
https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-vaccines/covid-19-vaccine-strategy-planning-insights/covid-19-purchasing-vaccines
Do you think that is a consideration for the Ministry of Health when procuring the vacinne?
Its a convenient political line that I have heard Minsters use quite often, but do you think our government is seriously saying internally,
"hey, we will not will not rush the rollout, we will keep the borders closed for another 12 months, and run the risk of further hard lockdowns, because there are countries worse off than us "
At a guess, it seems unlikely. I am, however, certain that "the need in some countries is (much) greater and more urgent than our own." Tbh, I'd be surprised if any opposition ACT or National party MPs used that "political line" – it’s an inconvenient truth (for them) that NZ once again tops Bloomberg’s Covid Resilience Ranking.
https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/covid-resilience-ranking/
Btw, what's the source of your "hey, we will not rush the rollout…" quote? I agree with not rushing the rollout ('haste makes waste'), and with the use of prudent travel restrictions to minimise the chance of a domestic lockdown.
Rates of COVID-19 vaccination are determined by vaccine availability – if Seymour or Bishop have a plan to increase vaccine availabilty for NZers then please stop yapping and tell us, but I'm not holding my breath.
https://covid19.govt.nz/covid-19-vaccines