First to get Covid jab feeling ‘safe’
INVERCARGILL
IT was an emotional day for Invercargill resident Evelyn Calaunan yesterday.
She was the first person to be vaccinated at Invercargill’s permanent Covid19 vaccination clinic at the Civic Theatre.
Mrs Calaunan, who is a Philippine national, has been living in New Zealand for the past 14 years. The vaccination ‘‘was not painful at all. I’m very happy now because [I feel] safe,’’ she said.
The caregiver was among about 360 health workers vaccinated yesterday at the new facility after it was officially opened with a mihi whakatau.
Vaccine programme leader Karl Metzler said the opening was a milestone for the region and the clinic was expected to be operating for the next 12 months.
‘‘Both SDHB and WellSouth primary care network should be very proud with what we achieved today. We had to move pretty quickly and get across some major logistics.
‘‘I think New Zealand is in a really good position — it just needs to really strengthen that position that we have been in by getting as much of our general population immunised and have this herd immunity target, really.’’
The focus was on vaccinating frontline health workers.
It was expected the higherrisk members of the population (group 3) would have their vaccinations next month, while the rollout for others would start in July, Mr Metzler said.
He estimated about 575,000 Pfizer vaccinations would be administered in the region and he hoped to have the whole southern population vaccinated by the end of the year.
‘‘The plan is that the vaccination centre here will focus on the urban population and then we fully intend to roll out to our more remote rural populations and provide vaccinations on site.’’
Vaccination hubs would open in Wanaka and Te Anau this weekend followed by Gore, Winton and Balclutha hubs in the next few weeks.
The booking system was one of the main challenges, he said.
‘‘We are working on alternative solutions, really, to make the system more efficient and userfriendly. ’’
A national campaign to encourage people to be vaccinated would start on April 21.
‘‘I think [there is] a vaccine hesitancy across the country, so we really need a national target focus.
He had already received his first dose and there had been no side effects, Mr Metzler said.
‘‘For me, to be part of the vaccination team, it is an enormous privilege . . . I hope I can tell my grandchildren about it.
‘‘We are part of the biggest vaccine campaign in our country’s history, really — and it is about the greater good.’’