DHB has lowest vaccine target
Health bosses have set a target of vaccinating 8829 people – seven per cent of the region’s population – against Covid-19 by the end of June.
The Taranaki District Health Board’s (TDHB) goal is the lowest of the 20 DHBS.
Whanganui, for example, has a target of vaccinating 10,020 people, or 15 per cent of its population, while Wairarapa is aiming for 15,960 residents (33 per cent).
Nationally, this month is set to see the rollout of group 3 vaccinations. These are for higher risk people, including those aged over 65, the disabled, pregnant women, and those with an underlying health condition.
According to the TDHB’s website, 17.4 per cent of the Taranaki population (20,436 people) is aged over 65.
In a statement, the Taranaki District Health Board said the vaccination target was ‘‘only a projection’’, and it expected rates to accelerate.
‘‘We are working to increase our local vaccination workforce, including help from other Taranaki health providers, and will be ramping up the rollout with formalised vaccination hubs in the region that have effective administrative systems to help us meet our target, if not possibly exceed.’’
The Ministry of Health’s Covid website lists figures which show the Taranaki DHB had delivered 2465 vaccinations against a target of 2297 up to Sunday, April 25, putting it seven per cent above its target for the period.
The national vaccine rollout began in February with group 1 – border and MIQ workers and the people they live with.
This includes cleaners, nurses who undertake health checks in MIQ, customs and border officials, hotel workers, police, airline staff and port authorities.
A Customs spokeswoman said all 25 tier 1 frontline border staff at Port Taranaki had received the first vaccination by the May 1 deadline.
The second vaccination would be administered to the group by June 6 deadline, she said.
Group 2 – high-risk frontline workers and people living in high-risk places – started undergoing vaccinations in March.
High-risk frontline workers include Covid-19 testing and vaccination services, ambulance
staff, accident and emergency departments, home care support, including aged care and disability services, and hospice care.
People living in high-risk places include those who reside or work in long-term residential care homes, older Ma¯ori and Pacific people cared for by their wha¯ nau, and people living with and caring for older Ma¯ori and Pacific people.
The TDHB said the seven per cent targeted vaccinations ‘‘include our people from groups 1 and 2’’.
Group 4 vaccinations, which cover about two million of the general population, will begin in July.
A TDHB spokeswoman said, in an emailed statement, the DHB was unable to provide figures on how many hospital staff have been vaccinated.
The Taranaki Covid-19 vaccination programme was operated by Taranaki DHB, the spokeswoman said in an emailed statement.
‘‘Therefore, it does not hold any responsibility for an individual employed by any organisation, including the Taranaki DHB.’’
A person’s vaccination status is recorded by the Taranaki Covid-19 vaccination programme – which while operated by Taranaki DHB is independent of it as an employer – in relation to their NHI number, not by their job, she said.
‘‘This information is confidential,’’ she added.
‘‘Employment by Taranaki DHB is not dependent on an individual’s vaccination status.
‘‘As an employer, we have requested members of staff selfdeclare, but this is by no means compulsory.
‘‘Any information staff do provide is confidential.’’