Thousands of vaccines ahead for the Waikato

Between 800 and 1000 Waikato people are getting Covid vaccinations each working day.

Waikato vaccinators are working through the second group of people to be vaccinated: frontline health workers and some groups at higher risk if they catch Covid.

Overall, about 350,000 Waikato people will need two doses of the vaccine in 2021, Waikato DHB Covid vaccine programme lead Maree Monroe told a committee meeting on Thursday.

‘‘We’re doing roughly 800 to 1000 five days a week at the moment, and then a small number on Saturday. We will be moving to a seven-day service by 24 May.’’

So far, about 16,000 vaccinations have been given, but that needs to almost double by the end of May, Monroe said.

New Zealand has never done something this big before, Waikato DHB commissioner Dame Karen Poutasi said.

This establishment has been a time for figuring out systems, processes and forming relationships, but they’ll need to be solid, deputy commissioner Chad Paraone said. ‘‘When we get to the big game you can’t have trying to figure it out … we’ve just got to just go at scale.’’

Various health organisations are sharing the load, including Taumarunui Community Kokiri Trust, who ‘‘are just motoring.

They’re going really well’’,

Monroe said.

Plans are afoot for a Tu¯ rangawaewae clinic, and K’aute Pasifika is keen to vaccinate at some of their churches. However, Waikato got behind on vaccination targets in early April, which means it’s now ‘‘playing catch-up’’.

It probably wasn’t the best start for the health board, Monroe said. ‘‘Due to the ministry not having a booking and scheduling system available at the moment, we’re struggling to get the numbers without having an efficient system and being able to push messages out.’’

Waikato worked with two other health boards to create a system – based on Auckland DHB’s – that went live on Thursday. People will get an email and be able to click in to fill out details and pick a location and time for their immunisation, Monroe said.

Now much of Waikato’s frontline workforce has had the jab, and attention is moving to the broader medical community. That includes areas such as primary care, pharmacy, physiotherapy, aged residential care facilities, mental health and disabilities.

‘‘Then of course we have our Ma¯ ori and Pacific kauma¯ tua. The ministry guidance is from 70 years of age, we as a local DHB decided we would work with Ma¯ori 65 years and over as a starting point.’’

The next group of people on the list will be able to get vaccinations from May 24. The group covers what Health Navigator describes as ‘‘people at higher risk if they catch Covid-19, such as older adults and people with underlying health conditions or disabilities’’.

‘‘We’re doing roughly 800 to 1000 five days a week at the moment.’’

Maree Monroe vaccine programme lead