Doctors, pharmacists, community nurses and many other health care workers will need to be fully vaccinated by December, under plans revealed by New Zealand’s government.

Teachers and other education workers will have to be jabbed by January.

COVID-19 response minister Chris Hipkins said many of these people have already had their jabs but nothing should be left to chance.

“It’s not an easy decision, but we need the people who work with vulnerable communities who haven’t yet been vaccinated to take this extra step,” he said.

New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland, is still struggling with an outbreak of the Delta variant.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the city will remain in lockdown for at least another week, although the nearby regions of Waikato and Northland will ease restrictions on Thursday if things continue to improve.