The Ministry of Health has clarified the current death toll in the current Covid-19 outbreak.
Photo: RNZ / Dan Cook
Fifteen people have died in the current outbreak.
Of the 15 deaths recorded by the ministry in the current outbreak to date, 10 were unvaccinated, two had one dose less than 14 days before they contracted Covid-19 and three were fully vaccinated (at least 14 days prior to contracting Covid-19).
The ministry said they'll now be reporting on the vaccination status of those who have died with Covid-19 in the current outbreak.
"These numbers will be published on the Ministry of Health website and updated as privacy considerations allow. There is sometimes a lag between the deaths being reported publicly and their inclusion in the Ministry of Health's official numbers."
There is clear evidence that Covid-19 vaccination greatly reduces the likelihood people will end up in hospital or die from Covid-19, the ministry said.
"A British Medical Journal study reported last month, based on research carried out in Scotland, that Pfizer vaccine was 90 percent effective in preventing death from Covid-19 - where most infections were caused by the Delta variant."