South Canterbury 5th place in vaccine stats
South Canterbury has the fifth highest number of fully vaccinated people per capita out of New Zealand’s 20 health board districts.
Latest Ministry of Health data released yesterday shows 66.9 per cent of eligible people having received both doses of the Covid19 injection in the South Canterbury District Health Board region.
Auckland Metro (Auckland, Counties Manukau, Waitemata¯ combined) leads with 72.8 per cent fully vaccinated followed by Nelson-Marlborough 71.2 per cent, Southern 70.6 per cent, Capital and Coast (including Hutt Valley) 69.8 per cent with SCDHB next.
In the Timaru District, of the 41,101 eligible people, the latest figures to Tuesday show 34,373 (83.63 per cent of eligible people) have had their first dose and 28,377 have had their second dose making 69.04 per cent fully vaccinated, according to the ministry.
The Waimate District, with an eligible population of 6927, has 60.2 per cent of people fully vaccinated and 79.49 per cent who have had their first dose.
In the Mackenzie District, with an eligible population of 4063, 52.15 per cent have received both doses and 79.97 per cent have had their first jab.
Breaking down the areas to smaller zones, Peel Forest’s Ben McLeod, which has been lagging behind other areas in the region, has increased from 36 per cent fully vaccinated to October 13 to 52.4 per cent in the latest figures to yesterday. Those with first doses only have risen by .6 per cent to 70.2 per cent.
Mackenzie Lakes has increased from 39 per cent fully vaccinated and 76.7 per cent with one dose on October 13 to 50.6 per cent fully vaccinated and 82.9 per cent with one dose.
New Zealand-wide 67 per cent are fully vaccinated.
SCDHB Covid-19 vaccine senior responsible officer Ruth Kibble said she was ‘‘proud’’ of the older population in South Canterbury who fronted up early in the campaign.
Super Saturday saw grandparents bring their grandchildren in, and families bring their friends, she said.
‘‘They deserve a shout out. Many were hesitant and anxious, for some it was a big decision. I hope people spread the word.
‘‘We want to encourage a community response so we are as well covered as we can be for summer.’’
The Woolcombe St walk-in clinic in Timaru is continuing from Monday to Friday, 9am to 4.30pm, with no appointments necessary, Kibble said.
The South Canterbury Rugby Union has joined the push with any eligible person who gets a Covid-19 vaccination at the Heartland Championship game in Timaru on Saturday getting their ticket refunded.
Children over the age of 12 and under 16 who get a jab at the game between South Canterbury and Whanganui will receive $10 despite getting free entry, SCRU chief executive Craig Calder said.
‘‘We couldn’t support Super Saturday as we had an away game. We want to be good community citizens and partners.’’
Anything that incentivised people to get vaccinated was important, he said.