Virologist Dr Natalie Netzler and Immunologist Chris Puliuvea answer your COVID-19 vaccine booster questions.
→ To find out if you're eligible for a COVID-19 booster, visit Unite against COVID-19: [ Ссылка ]
☎ Or call 0800 28 29 26.
⌚ Timestamps
00:00 Introductions
00:09 How do vaccines work to protect us?
00:34 Why is it important to keep up to date with immunisations?
01:01 Who are boosters particularly important for?
01:15 How long do you have to wait for a booster after you've tested positive for COVID-19?
01:35 Why is it important not to put off getting a booster?
02:08 End screen
#covid19nz #aotearoa #covid19vaccine
Transcript
Dr Natalie Netzler: Kia ora koutou, talofa lava.
Chris Puliuvea: Mālō e lelei.
Dr Natalie Netzler: I’m doctor Natalie Netzler and I'm a virologist.
Chris Puliuvea: My name is Chris Puliuvea, I'm an immunologist.
Visual: Text appears on screen "How do vaccines work to protect us?"
Dr Natalie Netzler: So vaccines work by training our immune system to recognise bugs as foreign invaders. So when we breathe them in or we catch a bug our immune system recognises these bugs and kicks them out and the wonderful thing about our immunity is that it has a memory.
So when we see the real virus in the real world, we are protected and that keeps us out of hospital.
Visual: Text appears on screen "Why is it important to keep up to date with immunisations?"
Dr Natalie Netzler: So it's important to have a booster every time one is due so that you keep your immune system high, because our immune system starts to drop over time, it's just a reminder for our immune system to kick out this foreign invader before it makes us really sick.
Chris Puliuvea: Hospitals as well are becoming overcrowded, there's too many people going in and the best way to protect us is to get vaccinated and stay on top of that.
Visual: Text appears on screen "Who are boosters particularly important for?"
Chris Puliuvea: Boosters are very important for everybody, particularly those in the older age groups. They are more vulnerable and also those that have underlying health conditions.
Visual: Text appears on screen "How long do you have to wait for a booster after you've tested positive for COVID-19?"
Dr Natalie Netzler: You should wait for three months after testing positive for COVID-19 before you get your booster and that’s just to let your body fully recover and let your immune system calm down. That gap of three months also means that you get the best immune response to the COVID-19 booster.
Visual: Text appears on screen "Why is it important not to put off getting a booster?"
Dr Natalie Netzler: I understand that some people are particularly scared of needles and they don't like the idea of another shot, but I would just say that if you get COVID-19 and you have to go to hospital, you'll have so many more needles to face. So it really is the easiest way to protect yourself from getting really sick and needing hospital is just that booster to keep that immunity high.
Chris Puliuvea: We can go out and get vaccinated to keep ourselves safe and keep our family safe and look forward to summer where we can go out and spend time with family and friends.
Visual: Text appears on screen "To find out if you're eligible for a COVID-19 booster, visit covid19.govt.nz or call 0800 28 29 26." The logos for Unite against COVID-19, Te Whatu Ora — Health New Zealand and Te Aka Whai Ora — Maori Health Authority are at the bottom of the screen.
