Port workers first in line for vaccine shots

Many breathed a sigh of relief on Wednesday as the first of the Pfizer/biontech Covid vaccines began to roll out to port workers and their families at Port Marlborough.

About 35 frontline port workers at Port Marlborough were under the needle on Wednesday, and the district health board expects to vaccinate approximately 70 more, plus around 300 household contacts, in this first round.

Among the first to receive their jabs were marine operations manager and pilot for Port Marlborough Matt Conyers and tug master Mike Beech.

Seasoned in the process of being vaccinated, and also having received a flu vaccine almost every year for the last 10 years, Conyers was very relaxed about the process.

‘‘Coming from a seafaring background, we’re often vaccinated for yellow fever and other tropical diseases on our travels, so I’m quite used to it,’’ he said, adding, ‘‘vaccines are something you just do if you can’’.

Conyers has also been subjected to a rigorous testing schedule requiring him to be swabbed every seven days. ‘‘I even had to have one last week when I was on holiday,’’ he said.

He added that his main concern was for his family and the people he came into contact with ashore.

‘‘It’s a very low risk, but there is a small risk nonetheless,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s really about getting past me and getting to the next person, so we can get everybody done. I’m very pleased it’s started.’’

Beech said he was ‘‘completely happy to get it’’ and had not been nervous or anxious at all. He has also been subjected to a rigorous testing schedule requiring him to be swabbed every fortnight.

‘‘The DHB and nurses that have been carrying out the tests have been good – as gentle as they could be,’’ he said.

Both men will have to continue with regular swabs, and will have to have a booster shot of