Health, emergency and some other workers could be offered vaccinations against swine flu, but not until the end of the year.
Health Minister Tony Ryall announced yesterday the Ministry of Health had ordered 300,000 doses of a vaccine from Baxter Healthcare, which was enough to give 150,000 workers the required two doses.
The vaccine was due to be delivered this month, but would not be used unless it was licensed by Medsafe in New Zealand.
Medsafe would review data from clinical trials to determine the vaccine's quality, safety and effectiveness, and a licensing decision was expected by the end of the year.
"The [swine flu] pandemic could last up to 18 months to two years, so this purchase is strategic," Mr Ryall said.
"We want to be in the position of having the vaccine and not needing it, rather than the other way around."
A spokesman from Mr Ryall's office said the cost of the vaccine was commercially sensitive, but was in the vicinity of "several million".
Clinical trials of the vaccine will be conducted in Europe, with results expected later this year.
No pandemic flu vaccines are currently licensed or in use.
Mr Ryall said the ministry had an opportunity to secure a limited amount of the vaccine and had to weigh the risks of not having any vaccine, or being placed in a queue for supplies, and the possibility of the virus causing a more severe illness.
Emergency workers were targeted to try to ensure they could maintain services while dealing with swine and seasonal flues.
"There's a large number of frontline services.
"Its strategic purpose is to enable those people to stay well longer because of the critical services they provide," Mr Ryall said.
Services included health, police, defence, border management, social support, corrections, fire, some aircrew and some foreign affairs personnel.
There were no plans for a national campaign.
In Otago and Southland, swine flu cases continue to rise, with 17 cases now confirmed in the region - up from 14 on Sunday.
Swine flu has been confirmed across both regions, including in Dunedin, Alexandra, Oamaru, Wanaka and Invercargill.
Nationally, 1059 people have been confirmed with swine flu and the number of deaths associated with swine flu, or influenza A (H1N1), is three.
Health officials say the actual number of people infected with swine flu will be significantly higher, as only a small proportion of people with symptoms are being tested.
A 9-month-old baby is in Starship Hospital with swine flu.
The baby is believed to be the youngest victim of the pandemic in New Zealand. Starship general manager Kay Hyman said last night the infant was admitted to the intensive care unit on June 27 and transferred to a general ward about a week later.
The 42-year-old Christchurch man who died last Thursday after contracting swine flu had been suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, his family said.
A girl who died on Saturday in Wellington Hospital and 19-year-old Zachary Wilson, from Hamilton, who died on June 28, also had underlying health issues.
The Wellington teenager in intensive care with swine flu has improved from critical to a serious but stable condition.
The 17-year-old had no underlying health conditions.
The national toll-free Healthline (0800 611 116) continues to receive high call volumes and answered more than 2000 calls on Sunday.
