Coronavirus: NZ Defence Force staff told to get COVID-19 vaccine or risk being sacked newshub.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from newshub.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Photo: NZDF / Supplied
More than 8800 first doses have been administered to uniformed personnel, civilian employees, reserves and foreign military staff since March.
But RNZ has learned some are refusing to take the dose.
Chief of Defence Force Air Marshal Kevin Short issued a stern warning to personnel on the NZDF s internal network Friday last week - get the inoculation or face consequences.
So far, about 180 people - 1.8 percent of uniformed personnel - have declined the vaccination, with hesitancy about the new vaccine being the main concern.
Air Marshal Kevin Short.
Photo: Supplied / New Zealand Defence Force
In that communication to staff, Short said every uniformed member of the NZDF who could receive the vaccine was expected to get it.
Covid 19 coronavirus: Defence Force service members told to get vaccinated or face being fired nzherald.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from nzherald.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
NZDF held a 41-gun salute for Prince Philip on the hills above Wellington on Sunday.
New Zealand has followed the UK and other countries around the world by marking the death of Prince Philip with a 41-gun salute. Philip, who was also known as the Duke of Edinburgh, died on Friday at Windsor Castle, two months before his 100th birthday.
Kevin Stent/Stuff
A cannon is fired as part of the 41-gun salute honouring Prince Philip New Zealand s salute fired from the saluting battery at Point Jerningham in Wellington on Sunday, started at noon and was expected to last 40 minutes.