Marlborough Primary Health Organisation chief executive Beth Tester said Marlborough was more than ready to move into vaccinating the 60+ age bracket, even as they continued to reach those in Group 3 still without a vaccine. Group 4 was everyone else in the country, but was being done in age groups. Those aged 55 and over could get their vaccine from August 11.
SCOTT HAMMOND/STUFF
Marlborough Primary Health Organisation chief executive Beth Tester said 25 per cent of the Marlborough population had been vaccinated. Tester said the district had been able to surpass its vaccination target because it started early. The main concern at the moment was getting more Māori men vaccinated, but Tester said Māori women were tracking the same as the rest of the population.
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Ellen Curnow.
Reefton is not the first town in New Zealand to offer Covid-19 vaccines to the wider community - Murchison has beaten it by a month.
File image.
Photo: RNZ / Tracy Neal
Reefton s vaccination clinic has been touted as the first to provide vaccines to people outside the priority groups of frontline border and health workers.
However, Murchison began its vaccination programme for the wider community last month.
Nelson Marlborough Health general manager strategy, primary and community Cathy O Malley said it was a more efficient use of vaccinators time and the vaccine to offer it to the wider community in more remote areas like Murchison.
“I’m pleased I’ve done it. I wasn’t worried about it [the vaccination] . I’m probably more excited about having it done here and having it done with my whānau . to me that’s important,” Powick said. “It’s really critical that we get good information around our health, and that we take responsibility personally and collectively for our health practices.”
SCOTT HAMMOND/STUFF
Waikawa Marae members, from left, George Aldridge Rita Powick, and Ngaro Moana Aldridge have a cup of tea after receiving their first dose of the Covid vaccine. The special clinic was a collaboration between Te Piki Oranga, Nelson Marlborough Health, the Marlborough Primary Health Organisation and Waikawa Marae.