Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Following a strong uptake from the 60-plus and the 55-plus age groups, COVID-19 vaccination bookings are now open to all New Zealanders aged 50-plus, or will be open from Friday 13 August, which is earlier than planned. This brings an additional 319,000 people into the programme, and they can start to take up their vaccines from Friday. Being able to open another age band so quickly is a good confidence booster in the programme, and shows that New Zealanders are embracing the opportunity to be vaccinated.