New Zealand team to be vaccinated before their tour of England.
New Zealand fast bowler Neil Wagner on Tuesday (April 20) took the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine ahead of his departure to England for a two-match Test series starting June 2 before the ICC World Test Championship Final against India from June 18 in Southampton.
Wagner received his first dose of COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine) at Tauranga Hospital on Tuesday and he was the last member of New Zealand’s touring squad of England.
As many as, fifteen players of the 20-member New Zealand squad have been vaccinated while four IPL 2021 participants– Kane Williamson, Trent Boult, Kyle Jamieson, and Mitchell Santner haven’t yet take the vaccine.
The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is a two-dose jab and is the only COVID-19 vaccine to be given provisional approval by Medsafe for use in New Zealand – where all cricketers including the small group of athletes have been approved for an early vaccine in the Government's “reason of national significance” criteria.
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New Zealand cricket took to Twitter and share a couple of Wagner’s pictures taking the vaccine and captioned it: “First @covid19nz vaccine jab for @NeilWagner13 in Tauranga today. He’s the last of our New Zealand-based players to receive the first of two doses ahead of departure to England in May.”
Wagner told stuff. co.nz: “It was all over pretty quickly and to be honest I didn't really feel a thing. It's reassuring to know that if I do get Covid, my body will know how to fight it.”
Meanwhile, Chris Hipkins, Minister for COVID-19 Response in New Zealand, had earlier announced a national significance category in March 2021 by saying it was expected to cover national teams playing overseas in televised sporting events.
Reacting to the same, Wagner said: “We're all hugely appreciative of the fact there is a category for international events that are in New Zealand's national interest. This is awesome for both us as players and our fans, and we're determined to make the country proud on the world stage.”
The pacer concluded, “We're really grateful for everything the government has done to this point, firstly in helping us host a safe and successful home summer of international cricket, and now assisting us to access the vaccines in time to tour.”
Notably, New Zealand will depart for London in mid-May to play two Tests and then will play India in the inaugural ICC World Test Championship final in Southampton from June 18.
(With ANI Inputs)