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We are regularly updating our info for carers.

Vaccine rollout plan: Progress is underway for the COVID-19 | KOWHEORI-19 vaccine rollout plan.

The NZ Government, together with the Ministry of Health and Unite Against Covid-19, have released an infosheet, Covid-19 vaccine: your questions answered. Download a copy here.

Here’s some general information to find out when you are likely to be able to receive the vaccine. Or if you’re 16 or over, use this tool to find out if you’re in Group 1, 2, 3, or 4, which will then determine the time frame for when you are able to receive the vaccine.

These dates are estimates — the actual start times will depend on when vaccines are delivered. Changes may also happen if new information comes to hand, which affects how the rollout will work.

Trans-Tasman travel: The ‘travel bubble’ between New Zealand and Australia is opening up. Here’s some info on what to do before you travel, what happens while you’re travelling, and how to keep yourself and others safe.

Carer Support and Individualised Funding (IF)

The Disability Directorate of the Ministry of Health will continue flexibility of carer support and individualised funding for eligible people from 1 March 2021.

Carer Support is a subsidy to support full-time carers of disabled people to have a break (respite) from their caring responsibilities. Individualised Funding allows disabled people to directly manage their supports (personal cares, home management and respite).

This flexibility means that people can continue to buy the support appropriate for them within guidelines, instead of being limited by the rules on what support funding can be used for.  You can find the guidelines of what you can buy here. What People Can Buy with Disability Funding: Ministry of Health NZ | Purchasing Guidelines.

Please email customerservice@health.govt.nz or phone 0800 855 066 option 4 if you have any questions.

PPE information from the Ministry of Health: What’s important for you to know about PPE.

Information on masks has been updated. Please check our COVID-19 Guidance page for current guidelines around face coverings. Carers NZ recommends wearing a face covering in situations where applicable, to protect yourself and others. However we also understand that this isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ issue: carers or the person(s) they are caring for, may have good reasons for not wearing a mask. The Ministry of Health has provided exemption cards which you can download and print here.