Vaccinations get going in Tu¯ rangi
Bookings available from next week
Covid-19 vaccinations are now available to anyone living in Tu¯rangi over the age of 16. Monday was the first day of a six-week Tu¯rangi vaccination programme, including those in Covid-19 vaccine Group 4.
Lakes District Health Board spokeswoman Sue Wilkie said making the Covid-19 vaccine available in Tu¯ rangi across all groups was a way of providing equity across the region.
“To ensure those at highest risk of infection are able to receive the vaccine.
“The Tu¯rangi clinics are also a response to ensure that Ma¯ori, older people and those living in less affluent areas are not disadvantaged in their efforts to be vaccinated.”
Ms Wilkie said the dedicated vaccination hub at Tu¯ rangi is a partnership between Lakes DHB, Tu¯wharetoa Health and Pihanga Health.
The two doses of Covid-19 Pfizer vaccine will be delivered by five registered nurses in late June, July and early August. The vaccination programme will run for a total of twoto three-week periods, with a week in between.
Earlier in the Covid-19 vaccine rollout effort, Groups 1 and 2 were
vaccinated at Pihanga Health. From Monday this week, vaccinations in Tu¯ rangi are being administered from a new site at the Tu¯ rangi Delta (previously the Tongariro Chartered Club), 14 Katopu St. Time slots are allocated for each person and appointments are required.
Tu¯wharetoa Health Charitable Trust Covid-19 project manager Anthony Hemopo said they are encouraging wha¯nau to source wellresearched information to make an informed choice about getting the
Covid-19 vaccine. He said the Tu¯ rangi Vaccination Hub is a valuable service to the community.
“We believe it is important for us to support the community to access these vaccinations as easily as possible, in a place that they feel comfortable.”
Mr Hemopo said bringing the vaccination rollout to Tu¯ rangi has been a positive collaboration with Pihanga Health and Lakes DHB.
Speaking to the Taupo¯ & Tu¯rangi Weekender on Tuesday, Mr Hemopo
said the first day of vaccination at the Katopu St hub went really well. He said people coming in had found the process smoothly run and clear to understand.
“We know that there are members of the community who will make the choice not to have the Covid-19 vaccine, and that is okay.
“We definitely understand that each individual will make their own decision about what is best for them and their wha¯nau.
“But, in general, the response has
been very positive in relation to the plan to have vaccinations in Tu¯ rangi.”
In a YouTube video, Nga¯ti Tu¯wharetoa paramount chief Te Ariki Ta¯ Tumu Te Heuheu encourages people to make an informed choice about the Covid-19 vaccine, using trusted information.
“Our people suffered a heavy loss of life during the Spanish influenza of the early 1900s. Back then we had no immunity to the influenza. We do not want to see history repeat itself with this coronavirus.”