Covid-19: Nelson on track to hit 10,000 vaccination target at new centre

Monday, 23 August 2021

Hundreds attend the well-organised mass vaccination event at the Trafalgar Centre, in Nelson on Monday.

Health workers are on track to meet their goal of vaccinating 10,000 Nelsonians in a week.

From Monday to Friday the Trafalgar Centre will be vaccination HQ in Nelson, with 50 staff able to administer 2000 vaccines doses per day, from 9am to 6pm.

Nelson Bays Primary Health general manager of primary care Charlotte Etheridge said as of 11.30am on Monday, 592 people had been vaccinated since the centre opened at 9am.

“The feedback we've had from patients has been really positive, they’re really thankful to have the opportunity during this time.

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Fifteen-year-old old Kaleb Webb was one of hundreds who attended the mass vaccination event on Monday.

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They’ve been bringing down their children as well, and the flow is working really nicely.”

Nelson Bays Primary Health chief executive Sara Shaughnessy said she was grateful to the Nelson City Council for the use of the Trafalgar Centre – which allowed for far greater capacity than the existing pop-up centres.

“We would really enjoy if that that critical mass of the community was able to come down this week and take advantage around what we've got with flow, space, and support staff.

“For us it's important, because we know if we can provide this service, it's vaccinating our community and making us a safe community.”

From Tuesday, the mass vaccination site at the Trafalgar Centre opened to walk-ins.

Father and daughter Tim Hunt and Greta Hunt got their first vaccination today at the Trafalgar Centre.

Those older than 30, essential workers, or in vaccination groups one, two, or three were invited to come into the centre for their free vaccination. The 12-15 year old children of anyone who meets these criteria can also be vaccinated, in addition to family members of Māori and Pasifika who are older than 12.

On Monday 1,827 people were vaccinated at the centre with at least another 422 at other places in Nelson.

This meant the centre was well on the way to its goal of giving 10, 000 people their vaccination shots by the week’s end.

She said the vaccination clinic was expected to remain at the Trafalgar Centre between alert levels 3 and 4, and would transition back to the pop-up clinic at 16 Paru Paru Rd during alert level 2.

There would also be outreach clinics operating at key workplaces for essential workers during the week.

Nelson Marlborough Health chief medical officer Dr Nick Baker said while no vaccine was completely effective, it was the best protection against the Delta variant of Covid-19.

“Evidence currently shows the effectiveness of two doses of the Pfizer vaccine against illness due to Delta infection is about 88 per cent, and the protection against hospitalisation due to Delta infection about 96 per cent.

“However, no vaccine is 100 per cent effective, so there is some chance that a vaccinated person may become infected with the Delta variant and may transmit the virus to other people.”

Baker said this was why precautions were still needed to stop the spread of the outbreak.

“Fully vaccinated people still need to follow the alert level rules, seek advice if they start to feel unwell and wear a mask when they leave their bubble.”

Booking can be done online at BookMyVaccine.nz. For a full list of vaccination centres see healthpoint.co.nz.