COVID-19 vaccination update: 5,000+ vaccinated to date
Almost 6,000 people have received their first of two COVID-19 vaccine doses.
On 1 March we started to vaccinate Group 1 members – border workers (ports) and the people they live with. On 10 March we started to vaccinate Group 2 members – high-risk frontline health workers such as those who work in emergency departments, intensive care units, outpatient departments, maternity wards, mental health wards, laboratories and aged residential care facilities. We’ve also invited support staff such as orderlies, clinical administrators, facilities staff and cleaners who work in these areas.
In the week starting 29 March we started offering vaccination to people who live in community environments where there's a higher risk of COVID-19 spreading. This includes aged residential care facility residents and older Māori and Pasifika people who are cared for by their whānau.
In April we started to offer occasional vaccination to Group 3 members who are aged 65 years and older. Vaccines are offered by appointment and when spaces come up, we offer them first to Group 2 members so that the vaccine doesn't expire and is wasted. People can't always come to an appointment at short notice however, which is why we are offering bookings to people aged 65+ (Group 3).
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