Applications under National Significance for those participating in an International Sporting Event - Access to Early Vaccine for People Required ...
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Access to Early Vaccine for People Required to Travel Overseas from New Zealand Applications under National Significance for those participating in an International Sporting Event April 2021 sportnz.org.nz
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Background
Cabinet announced on 10 March 2021 the three tier Sequencing Framework which sets out the
order in which New Zealanders will be able to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The Sequencing
Framework ensures New Zealanders who are at most risk of either contracting COVID-19,
transmitting or falling seriously ill because of contracting the virus are prioritised for vaccination.
The general population of New Zealanders aged 16 and over will be vaccinated once everyone in
each of the three tiers within the Sequencing Framework have received their vaccine.
On 24 March 2021 the Minister for COVID-19 Response announced people who need to travel
outside of New Zealand for reasons of national significance or on compassionate grounds, would
be able to gain early access to the COVID-19 vaccine if they met strict criteria.
Policy context
Early Vaccine Access (EVA) is aimed at providing the protection offered by the COVID-19
vaccine (the vaccine) for those who genuinely need it where they are required to travel
overseas.
Under the EVA process, anyone wishing to access the vaccine early to participate in a major
international sporting event must make an application to through Sport NZ as the sector’s
sponsor agency.
Sport NZ will assess the application, and if it meets the criteria, Sport NZ will then submit a
referral to the Ministry of Health. Final individual approval is made by the Ministry.
Please note that as the sponsoring agency, Sport NZ is responsible for ensuring that each
individual included in an application meets all the qualifying criteria and requirements
outlined in this document. It is also required to ensure that it holds any documentation or
evidence necessary to support an application and confirm eligibility.
Purpose of this document
This document outlines the standardised process that all of those applying to participate in a
major international sporting event will need to follow when submitting an application on
behalf of individuals for early access to the COVID-19 vaccine.
It is intended that this document will provide you with all the information you require and
includes:
• an overview on the eligibility criteria that each individual applicant must meet in order
to qualify
• high level information about the declaration sponsoring agencies will need to
acknowledge when submitting an application
• instructions on how to complete an application using the templated form via the
Sport NZ website
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Eligibility criteria for travel under national significance
Sport NZ can only support applications for the following people to apply for early access
under reasons of national significance :
Non-government personnel representing New Zealand at significant international
events (e.g. Olympians and Paralympians, sportspeople).
Baseline eligibility requirements
In order to apply to Sport NZ you will need to confirm that all applicants meet the following
baseline criteria, along with additional specific criteria. Anyone who does not meet these
requirements will not be eligible for early access. Applicants must:
• be a New Zealand citizen, resident, visa holder, or has been unable to leave New
Zealand since closure of international borders; and
• be unable to delay or conduct the proposed activity through any other means; and
• be required to travel overseas on or before 31 August 2021; and
• have made arrangements for returning to New Zealand; and
• be able to receive the second dose of the vaccination prior to departure.
Applicant is a New Zealand citizen, resident, visa holder, or has been unable to leave New
Zealand since closure of international borders.
Most people living in New Zealand lawfully will meet this requirement, except where they have
only recently returned to New Zealand.
Australian citizens and permanent residents, as well as Pacific Island citizens (that are not
part of The Realm of New Zealand) will meet this requirement if they are in New Zealand.
Applicant is not able to delay or conduct the proposed activity through any other means
Applicants will not be eligible if the nature of the activity they are travelling for is delayable
(e.g. until after the applicant is immunised according to the Sequencing Framework) or could
be carried out in another way (e.g. virtually).
Some non-government groups who are applying under the National Significance category are
more likely to be able to do delay their activity or do this from New Zealand.
We understand that some sporting events are being postponed or cancelled any requests for
urgent vaccination should be withdrawn in such circumstances.
Applicant is required to travel overseas on or before 31 August 2021
EVA is only intended to apply for a limited time as it will not be needed once the general
population has access to the COVID-19 vaccine.
The estimated timeframe for vaccine access to commence for the general population aged 16
years or over is July 2021. 31 August 2021 is being used as the last intended travel date for
EVA eligibility as a conservative estimate factoring in delays in vaccine supply or
administration.
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The end date for EVA applications will be reviewed periodically to align with estimates of
national delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Applicant has made arrangements for returning to New Zealand
Where an applicant indicates they have booked flights to return to New Zealand, they should
be able to provide evidence of the return flight.
People who are travelling overseas will still be required to adhere to New Zealand’s border
entry requirements when they return, for example undertake pre-departure testing or go into
a Managed Isolation or Quarantine facility. Receiving the vaccine does not exempt people
from these requirements.
Applicant should be fully vaccinated before departure
Applicants must have time to be fully vaccinated before departure from New Zealand in
accordance with the vaccine’s regulatory approval and Ministry of Health policy. For the Pfizer
vaccine, this means the applicant:
• Needs to allow for a minimum of three weeks between their first and second dose;
and
• Is 16 or older; and
• Is not already vaccinated (or has received their first dose) or is not currently eligible
for vaccination under the Sequencing Framework.
In the event that other COVID-19 vaccinations, with different dose frequencies, are used in
New Zealand, the applicant must be able to receive their final dose prior to departure.
Vaccination and application timeframes
Enough time must be allowed before people need to travel so both doses of the Pfizer vaccine
can be received. This means applications for EVA need to be submitted at least six weeks
prior to their departure date (this timeframe includes the required processes of both Sport NZ
and the Ministry of Health).
Specific eligibility criteria for traveling under national significance
Traveling under national significance applies to people who are required to travel to
represent New Zealand in an official or recognised capacity where the proposed service or
activity will substantially achieve the national interest.
While there are four reasons to travel within the overall national significance category, Sport
NZ will be reviewing and progressing applications for the purpose of participation in a major
international event.
In addition to the baseline eligibility requirements, you will also need to confirm to Sport NZ
that the people you are submitting an application for meet the specific eligibility rules for this
purpose set out below.
Participation in a major international event
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• All applicants must be participating in a select event that has multilateral
international involvement and is of national interest or cultural significance; and
• The event has evident global community involvement; and
• The event supports the cultural, social and/or economic recovery from the COVID-19
pandemic.
If you are part of the Olympic and Paralympic teams (e.g. athlete, support staff, technical
officials, media and broadcasters) you meet this requirement
Specific exclusions
There are specific exclusion reasons that you will also need to consider for each individual
you are applying for.
These people will not qualify for early access to the COVID-19 vaccine, even if they meet the
eligibility criteria outlined above.
Quarantine-free travel zones
Anyone within an application travelling to a country that is part of a quarantine-free travel
zone with New Zealand is not eligible for early access to the vaccine. Risk in these countries
is deemed to be very low.
There are currently no quarantine-free travel zones, but in the event that a quarantine- free
travel zone is opened, this will mean individuals traveling to these zones cannot be included in
your application. We will update this business process to include specific information when a
quarantine-free travel zone is opened.
Travel in less than four weeks from application date
Applications made less than four weeks prior to departure does not allow enough time to
receive both doses of the Pfizer vaccine in accordance with the vaccine’s regulatory approval
and Ministry of Health policy.
You (as the sponsoring agency) must submit an application that allows enough time for
individuals to be able to receive the final dose of the Pfizer vaccine prior to departure.
Acknowledging and agreeing to the declaration
Submitting an application for early access requires that you agree to a formal declaration on
behalf of the individuals you are submitted a request for. A copy of the full declaration is
included in the application form on the Sport NZ website.
At a high level, the declaration outlines the acknowledgement that:
• consent was obtained from all people in the application to provide personal details to
the Ministry
• all people contained in the application are required to travel so they can represent
New Zealand and conduct activities of national significance
• all people contained in the application meet all the necessary criteria to be required
to travel overseas
• all necessary verification is held by the agency to determine eligibility for early access
to the vaccine
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• all information provided as part of the application is true and correct and where false
information is found to have been provided, early access to the vaccine could be
revoked
• personal information about individuals will be shared with District Health Boards
(DHBs) to facilitate early access to the vaccine.
Submitting your application
You can submit an application via the form on the Sport NZ website.
Applications need to be received at least six weeks before required travel to allow Sport NZ
time to review, assess and quality assure any information provided, and for the Ministry of
Health to undertake its review and decision processes. We will not be able to progress
applications where incorrect information exists. Please take the time to check all information
prior to submitting your application, as incorrect matches will delay the process.
If you have any questions on the process outlined in this document then please contact us at
vaccines@sportnz.org.nz
What happens next?
Representatives from the International Travel Team at Sport NZ or High-Performance Sport
NZ may be in touch to clarify aspects of your application.
We will confirm if we agree that you meet the criteria for early access to vaccination and that
we have submitted your request onto the Ministry of Health.
If your application is approved by the Ministry of Health, information will then be passed onto
District Health Boards who will then directly arrange individual vaccination appointments.
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