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Media release from the Northern Region Healch Coordination Centre
Wednesday 12 May 2021, 04:37 PM
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Walk-in vaccinations are being paused at two Auckland COVID-19 vaccination centres from today.
The sites at Mt Wellington and Highbrook have seen high demand for walk-in vaccinations since they began trialling the model from the middle of last week.
However, with both sites reaching capacity and increasing concerns about traffic flow and lengthy queues, the Northern Region Health Coordination Centre, which is managing the vaccination rollout on behalf of the northern region DHBs, has decided to halt the trial.
“Walk-in demand has been high at these sites and that’s not a bad problem to have. But we want people to have the best experience possible so we’re going to take a moment to reflect on the last week and assess what changes may need to be made before allowing walk-ins back at those sites,” said Matt Hannant, NRHCC Vaccination Prog
He said officials had advised quarantine-free travel can continue. The man in Victoria tested positive for the virus after completing a stint in South Australia’s hotel quarantine system and returning to his home in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.
There are 12 locations of interest in Melbourne, the Ministry of Health said, and anyone who was at those locations at the specified time cannot travel to New Zealand for 14 days after exposure. Anyone already in New Zealand who had been at a location of interest during the time specified, must self-isolate, call Healthline and arrange a test if advised to do so.
Wednesday, 12 May 2021, 2:17 pm
“Love thy neighbour and get vaccinated” was the catch
cry as Auckland’s second Pasifika-led community
vaccination centre opened at Westgate Mall today, Wednesday
12 May.
The new centre is being led by The Fono Trust
Pacific health provider in partnership with the Pacific
Collective. At capacity it will be vaccinating up to 300
people per day by appointment and through community
outreach.
The first to be vaccinated on site today
were local church leaders, who were keen to lead the way and
show their congregations how safe and straight forward the
process is.
Reverend Superintendent of the Samoan
Speaking to
Stuff, Cheryl Bale said while she hadn’t been turned away, she had waited for more than two hours to get her vaccination. Falling into Group Three, by virtue of being both over 65 and suffering a chronic medical condition, she said the wait had been far too long when she went in for her appointment on Monday - especially as she had been told while booking that it would be quick.
David White/Stuff
Wait times at the Highbrook vaccination centre have been causing frustrations among those forced to wait. Because she suffers from an auto-immune disease, she also tries to limit her exposure to large crowds.