Chris Hipkins denies seeing advice about Covid-19 vaccine doses for teens despite cabinet paper in his name

Friday, 27 March 2026

Labour leader Chris Hipkins insists he never saw advice that cautioned the Government against mandating two doses of the Covid-19 Pfizer vaccine for 12 to 17 year olds, despite a cabinet paper with the advice referenced in his name.

The advice, which came from the Covid-19 Vaccine Technical Advisory Group (CV TAG), warned of younger people being more at risk of developing myocarditis after the second dose of Pfizer vaccine.

CV TAG advised the Ministry of Health in December 2021 to consider changing the mandated requirements from two vaccine doses for children aged 12 to 17, to allow younger people to work and do other activities covered by the mandate.

Earlier this month the Royal Commission found the Ministry of Health never passed on the expert advice to ministers.

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A cabinet paper in Hipkins’ name has recently surfaced which is found to refer to this advice.

It was presented to the Social Wellbeing Committee in March 2022, around the time the vaccine mandates were being removed.

Hipkins, who was Covid Response Minister at the time, said the advice was only referenced in the paper and the Ministry of Health had not shared the original advice.

Any suggestion of a cover up was “just utterly wrong”.

“When the mandates were being removed, it was referenced in a cabinet paper, but we certainly weren't made aware of it at the time when we were making those relevant decisions.”

Hipkins was not listed as being present at this meeting.

The list of ministers which were present included its chairperson Carmel Sepuloni, Jacinda Ardern, Grant Robertson, Kelvin Davis, Dr Megan Woods, Andrew Little, Poto Williams, Damien O’Connor, Kris Faafoi, Peeni Henare, Willie Jackson, Ayesha Verrall, Meka Whaitiri and Priyanca Radhakrishnan.

When asked why he did not communicate the referenced advice to the public, Hipkins said it was not appropriate as he was not a health practitioner.

“I was very disappointed [health officials] didn't provide us with the advice when we make the earlier set of decisions, but in communicating that advice in March, when the mandates and the requirements were being removed, updating public health guidance, I always left that to the relevant health officials.”

The Royal Commission considered it a failure the advice did not reach ministers or the public, noting 12 to 17-year-olds were not informed of the risks when making the decision to get vaccinated.

Health Minister Simeon Brown suggested the ministers must have been made aware of the advice.

“Parents will rightly ask whether ministers raised questions at the time concerns were raised with them on the two-dose mandate for 12 to 17-year-olds.

“When concerns are raised with a minister, particularly relating to clinical safety, the responsibility does not end with simply receiving that advice. It requires active questioning, careful consideration, and clear accountability.”

NZ First MP Shane Jones said he and leader Winston Peters would have “volumes to say” about it next week - and it would all be negative towards Hipkins.

He made the comment after Finance Minister Nicola Willis was asked about it at the Government’s fuel announcement, who said “I think he’s got some explaining to do”.