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Volume 29, Number 9—September 2023
Historical Review

Improvements and Persisting Challenges in COVID-19 Response Compared with 1918–19 Influenza Pandemic Response, New Zealand (Aotearoa)

Jennifer SummersComments to Author , Amanda Kvalsvig, Lucy Telfar Barnard, Julie Bennett, Matire Harwood, Nick Wilson1, and Michael G. Baker1
Author affiliations: University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand (J. Summers, A. Kvalsvig, L. Telfar Barnard, J. Bennett, N. Wilson, M.G. Baker); University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand (M. Harwood)

Main Article

Figure 1

Cumulative mortality rate (deaths/1,000 population) in New Zealand (Aotearoa) during the 1918–19 influenza pandemic (for European-origin persons) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (all origins), by age and sex. The 1918–19 pandemic mortality data cover the entire period of the pandemic in NZ and are reproduced from Summers (10) and derived/approximated from publicly available sources (8; https://www3.stats.govt.nz/New_Zealand_Official_Yearbooks/1924/NZOYB_1924.html). Mortality data from 1918–19 for the Māori population are not available; therefore, mortality rates are likely underestimates. COVID-19 mortality data cover the period of January 2020–December 31, 2022. Mortality data were provided by the New Zealand Ministry of Health/Manatū Hauora, and population totals were sourced from Stats NZ/Tatauranga Aotearoa (https://www.stats.govt.nz/topics/population). Death was classified as a COVID-19 death when COVID-19 was the underlying cause of death or a contributory cause of death. The figure does not include 3 deaths with missing demographic information or the 589 deaths that were unclassified as of December 31, 2022 (and might subsequently be classified as COVID-19 deaths).

Figure 1. Cumulative mortality rate (deaths/1,000 population) in New Zealand (Aotearoa) during the 1918–19 influenza pandemic (for European-origin persons) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (all origins), by age and sex. The 1918–19 pandemic mortality data cover the entire period of the pandemic in NZ and are reproduced from Summers (10) and derived/approximated from publicly available sources (8; https://www3.stats.govt.nz/New_Zealand_Official_Yearbooks/1924/NZOYB_1924.html). Mortality data from 1918–19 for the Māori population are not available; therefore, mortality rates are likely underestimates. COVID-19 mortality data cover the period of January 2020–December 31, 2022. Mortality data were provided by the New Zealand Ministry of Health/Manatū Hauora, and population totals were sourced from Stats NZ/Tatauranga Aotearoa (https://www.stats.govt.nz/topics/population). Death was classified as a COVID-19 death when COVID-19 was the underlying cause of death or a contributory cause of death. The figure does not include 3 deaths with missing demographic information or the 589 deaths that were unclassified as of December 31, 2022 (and might subsequently be classified as COVID-19 deaths).

Main Article

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1These senior authors contributed equally to this article.

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