New Zealand announces vaccine mandates for health and education workers

• Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced last week that her government was phasing out its elimination strategy, which proved successful before Delta arrived, and stepping up vaccination rates.

The big picture: COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said at a briefing Monday that under the mandate, health workers including doctors, community nurses and pharmacists must be fully vaccinated by December.

• Education workers including teachers and parents who regularly volunteer at schools have until January.
• Health and education groups welcomed the announcement, with the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners president Samantha Murton calling it a "bold, but necessary call to make."

By the numbers: The New Zealand government's goal is to achieve a 90% vaccination rate by Christmas.

• 79% of eligible New Zealand residents over the age of 12 years old has had at least COVID-19 vaccine dose. 55% are fully vaccinated.