08/04/2021 COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins. Photo credit: Getty Images The government has established a new scientific advisory group to advise it on crucial COVID-19 decisions, including any changes at the border and the ongoing vaccine rollout. One of its first tasks will be to advise on a vaccine target. The six person group will be headed by epidemiologist Professor Sir David Skegg, and will be in place until mid next year. COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said having the group was to ensure future decisions were "informed by the best available scientific evidence and strategic public health advice". That would include looking at vaccination rates and scenarios should the borders reopen, interpreting scientific data for any decisions around the border, public health protections and consideration of the "residual risk of the non-immunised population and the associated health system capacity needs" once the border's open.