New Zealand vaccinated around 2.5% of its population on Saturday as the government attempts to speed up vaccinations and live with COVID-19, reported preliminary health ministry data.

By means of several strategies and encouragement from Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, 124,669 vaccine doses were administered by late in the day. As of Friday, 62% of the country’s eligible population had been fully vaccinated while 83% had received their first dose.

The country recorded 41 fresh COVID-19 cases on Saturday, 40 being in Auckland. The city has been in lockdown since mid-August and officials intend to lift the restrictions when full vaccination rates reach 90%... (Reuters, October 16, 2021)