The New Zealand Association of Optometrists (NZAO) is advocating for optometrists to be included in the priority list for health practitioners to receive Covid-19 vaccinations.
“We recognise that optometrists are not frontline Covid-19 workers, but we are among the group of health practitioners who deliver very close-contact services,” said NZAO president Rochelle van Eysden.
The Ministry of Health (MoH) has responded that while the priority order remains fluid, optometrists currently fall into the third group which includes a broad category of healthcare workers. It is expected the MoH will update NZAO with more information and developments as it becomes available, said van Eysden.
