Hundreds of medical staff have received Covid jabs earlier than expected -- in order to use up expiring doses

Our border and MIQ workers are meant to be the ones vaccinated first -- but the Ministry of Health says healthcare workers have now been offered the jabs before they go bad.

Once a dose reaches temperature above negative 70 degrees Celsius, it has five days before it expires.

When a batch is a day away from expiry, employers at MIQ, the airport and ports are being asked if anyone's available to get their jab within the next 24 hours, in addition to the scheduled vaccinations that day.

Hospital staff, primary care, and community testing centre staff are also on standby to make sure the doses aren't wasted.