The 90% Project: Stories from the frontlines of the vaccination rollout

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New Zealand needs to get vaccinated now to beat Delta - and that's why NZME has launched The 90% Project. We want to help 90 per cent of Kiwis to get vaccinated to save lives and reopen our country to the world.

Bay nurses working on the frontlines of the Covid-19 vaccination rollout put on their masks every day to help New Zealand beat the virus. No matter how busy their days get, they are passionate about what they do.

Bay of Plenty District Health Board nurse Linda Oelofse is working at Tauranga's vaccination hub on 1st Ave.

Oelofse has worked as a public health nurse in New Zealand for 12 years. She also has several years of experience as a nurse in South Africa. "I've been part of the vaccination rollout since they started at the Port [of Tauranga] earlier this year. Before this I worked with mainly with children giving 4-5-year-olds developmental checks and in the school-based vaccination programme."

Oelofse said her favourite part of the job is the interaction with people.

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"I meet new people every day."

When Oelofse meets nervous patients at the First Ave vaccination hub she tells them the truth: she is also scared of needles.

"I tell them this vaccination is not painful. I've been doing this for so many years so I'm very experienced.

"You have to be kind. You have to understand and you have to spend a little time talking to them."

Public health nurse Linda Oelofse at the First Avenue vaccination centre. Photo / George Novak

Oelofse said the best practice is to move people through the vaccination process efficiently so they don't have too much time to get nervous.

"We are trying to get through as many people as we can. My whole day is either spent vaccinating patients or doing something around vaccinations."

Oelofse starts work at 7.30am and finishes at 4pm. She said she never gets bored.

"Either you're giving the injections or observing people after the vaccination just in case someone needs medical attention."

Preparing vaccinations takes the time of five nurses each day.

"We get the vaccinations out of the fridge, and then you have to get them to warm up for 30 minutes. Then you dilute them with normal saline and draw them out and put them into a lunch box and label them. Two nurses check everything."

Oelofse has learned a lot from her colleagues over the past few months.

"I'm always learning new things. I'm meeting nurses from all different walks of life. Nurses who worked at the hospital, private practice or ambulance. Some nurses have come out of retirement to work with the vaccine rollout. They're all amazing."

Te Puna Ora o Mataatua vaccination hub nurse Stacey Rogers. Photo / Supplied

Te Puna Ora o Mataatua vaccination hub nurse Stacey Rogers said the best part of her day was seeing people walk in nervous and leave "super happy".

"We tell them it's like a prickle. We understand it takes a lot to come in and get a vaccination when there's so much rubbish information out there. [My job] is more about reassurance."

Rogers has been on the vaccination team since May. Before that, she worked at the special care baby unit at Whakatāne Hospital.

"I needed a break from shift work. I thought it would be great to try something new, something no one has done before. We've never had to vaccinate during a nationwide lockdown before. It's been a big change in my career."

Rogers said her day could involve managing bookings, answering the phone to help people book their vaccinations, giving patients their shot and a lot of sanitising.

"We wipe our desks down after each patient."

Rogers also helps prepare the day's vaccines.

"It involves quite a bit of work. The vaccines have to stay cold. We store them at temperatures of between 2C and 8C.

"Once the vaccines are drawn up they can stay at room temperature under 30C. They also need to be kept away from UV light. Everything gets labelled. It's a big part of the day."

Rogers said she put the patients first every day.

"We have the opportunity to provide manaakitanga. We don't rush people through our service. We give them time to talk about what's on their mind.

"We've all loved every minute of it."