COVID-19 vaccination open for tamariki aged 5-11 years, booster rollout continues
Our vaccine rollout remains our key defence against all variants of COVID-19, including Omicron.
If you are eligible to be vaccinated but haven't yet taken up the opportunity, please do so that you, your whānau and your community are well protected against COVID-19.
Child vaccine
The child (paediatric) Pfizer vaccine is now available for 5–11 year-olds at vaccination sites across the Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough region.
Walk-ins are available at some sites but parents are advised to book an appointment where possible via BookMyVaccine.nz or by calling the COVID-19 Vaccination Healthline on 0800 28 29 26.
A full list of vaccination sites providing the child vaccine can be found on HealthPoint here. The number of sites will increase over the coming weeks.
Boosters
People over the age of 18 who had their second dose at least four months ago, are now eligible for their booster shot.
Walk-in to one of our main vaccination centres or pop-up vaccination clinics. You can also book an appointment via the BookMyVaccine.nz website or by calling the COVID-19 Vaccination Healthline on 0800 28 29 26 at a time and location that suits you.
More information
For more information on the vaccine rollout in Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough, see Our COVID-19 vaccination programme page.
COVID-19 vaccination and testing update 6 January 2022
From Wednesday 5 January 2022, anyone aged 18 and over who had their second vaccination at least four months ago can now get their booster dose.
Getting a booster shot maintains your body's immune response against all strains of the COVID-19 virus, including the highly transmissible Omicron and Delta strains.
The Pfizer vaccine is the primary vaccine being used in New Zealand for booster doses, even if you had a different vaccine for your earlier doses.
Click through to read more about where to get your COVID-19 booster as well as an update on COVID-19 testing.
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One new COVID-19 case confirmed in Nelson Tasman
The Ministry of Health has confirmed one new COVID-19 case in the Nelson Tasman region, bringing the total number of cases to 23.
- eight of the cases have recovered
- 15 cases are active
- all known close contacts of the cases are in quarantine
- the majority of cases are not fully vaccinated
Medical Officer of Health Dr Stephen Bridgman says that the cases fall into two clusters; there are 19 in one and 4 in the other.
- a likely source for the larger cluster is still being investigated
- for the smaller cluster there is both epidemiological and whole genomic sequencing data suggesting a possible source to a cluster in the North Island.
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Life under the traffic light system
You do not need to show your My Vaccine Pass to receive healthcare or to enter Nelson Marlborough Health facilities.
Nelson Marlborough Health is now Orange under the COVID-19 Protection Framework (traffic lights). This feels very similar to Alert Level 2 in that we continue to keep each other safe by scanning or signing-in, wearing a face mask and following public health measures including physical distancing.
In our hospitals, life at Orange means we protect each other by:
- Reducing the risk of exposure by limiting visitors to the hospital
- Understanding the risk by screening patients, support people and visitors at the front door and emergency department
- Following public health measures including:
- Scanning-in using the COVID-19 Tracer App
- Wearing a mask (Staff, patients, support people and visitors)
- Remaining physically distant and following hand-hygiene and cough etiquette
Please remember, limiting our interactions with others is our best defence against COVID-19. Please don’t visit the hospital if you don’t need to.
In the know
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Shellfish biotoxin alert: Grove Arm, Marlborough Sounds
The Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) has issued a shellfish biotoxin alert for Grove Arm, Marlborough Sounds.
Mussels, oysters, tuatua, pipi, toheroa, cockles, scallops, catseyes, kina (sea urchin) and all other bivalve shellfish should not be eaten.
Cooking shellfish does not remove the toxin, which can cause diarrhetic shellfish poisoning.
Refer to the MPI advisory for full information and a map of the affected area.
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Nelson Marlborough District Health Board Meeting 23 November 2021
Members of the public are welcome to attend the following Nelson Marlborough District Health Board meeting to be held Tuesday 23 November 2021 at 10.00am, Seminar Centre Room 1, Braemar Campus, Nelson Hospital.
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End of life choices: Learn more at our next lecture
From 7 November 2021 people who experience unbearable suffering from a terminal illness will be able to legally ask for medical assistance to end their lives. This is different to end of life palliative care.
Hear from experts in the field as they discuss their experiences of palliative care in New Zealand and assisted dying services in Victoria, Australia.
Date: Monday 8 November, 6pm
Venue: Suter Theatre, 208 Bridge Street, Nelson
Alternatively, join us via Zoom.
All details are on this webpage.
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COVID-19 case confirmed in Blenheim: Get tested, get vaccinated
Have you been at one of the same locations as the Blenheim or Christchurch COVID-19 cases?
Find out and follow the instructions. Or if you have even the slightest of cold symptoms and live in Marlborough, Nelson or Tasman, please get tested (even if you've been vaccinated).
The locations of interest have been confirmed and are listed here (enter 'Blenheim' or 'Christchurch' into the search box or use the map view).
Read about symptoms to be alert to on the Ministry of Health website here.
If you need your first or second vaccination, please get this. Vaccination clinic locations across the region are listed on our webpage here.
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Nelson Marlborough Health District Health Board Meeting 26 October 2021
Members of the public are welcome to attend the following Nelson Marlborough District Health Board meeting to be held by Zoom at 12.30pm 26 October.
For a Zoom link, please email [email protected]
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The 90% goal: We are getting there Nelson Marlborough!
Here is the latest COVID-19 vaccination data for our region. This shows how we are tracking towards the Government's goal for 90% of eligible New Zealanders to be fully vaccinated.
Once this target has been reached, the Government will replace the current Alert Level system with a 'traffic light' system that does not rely on lockdowns as the main measure to stop the virus spreading. To find out more about the new system: https://covid19.govt.nz/alert-levels-and-updates/covid-19-protection/
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