Auckland queue-jumpers turned away from clinics

Busloads of Aucklanders who made the trip to Northland in a bid to jump Covid-19 vaccine queues were turned away as they did not live in the region.

Last week, Northland District Health Board said it would offer the vaccine to all Northlanders aged 50 and over, ignoring more restrictive recommendations from the Ministry of Health.

It is the only health board offering vaccines to over-50s, with others only starting to offer jabs to a wider group this month, starting with the over-75s.

But out-of-towners wanting to get the vaccine sooner have been turned away from Northland vaccination clinics, as they are only for people who live in the region, said chief executive Dr Nick Chamberlain.

Busloads of out-of-towners tried their luck at weekend clinics in Whanga¯ rei’s Semenoff Stadium and Kerikeri’s Old Placemakers building, he said.

‘‘Over the weekend we had people arrive in busloads from Auckland asking to be vaccinated, as well as a couple who had flown up from the South Island. Our priority is Northlanders.’’

In April, Northland was the worst-performing district health board for the Covid-19 vaccine roll-out due to a lot of remote and hard-to-reach patients.

Since opening its clinics to all over-50s, the health board has also been overwhelmed by the response from eligible Northlanders, with older residents struggling to book an appointment and calls dropping out before being answered. It has received an average of 50 calls an hour, a total of 15,700 since February 24, and 200 or 1.3 per cent were unanswered.

The health board has also received more than 2000 emails requesting a booking, with extra staff brought on board to help clear the booking backlog.

Northlanders are no longer able to walk in to clinics; they must make an appointment through the 0800 number first. The clinics are open to kuia, kauma¯ tua and their wha¯ nau and carers, frontline and other healthcare workers, and people aged 50 years and over.

Chamberlain said the health board would also provide vaccinations at aged care facilities throughout Northland.

Northland District Health Board had administered 10,000 Covid-19 vaccines as of 9am yesterday.

‘‘Our priority is Northlanders.’’ Dr Nick Chamberlain Northland DHB chief executive