Vax milestone reached

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Tairāwhiti has hit the 90 percent vaccination rate for first doses but vaccinators are not letting up and are ramping up efforts to boost the double-jabbed figure.

As of 11.59pm on Monday, 90 percent of the eligible population had received one dose of the Covid-19 vaccination, while 82.4 percent were double-vaxxed.

“From a vaccinator's point of view and all those working in the vaccine centres, we're absolutely ecstatic,” a Hauora Tairāwhiti spokeswoman said.

“It's been a hard road for us. We've been pushing as much as we possible can, putting on extra street parties and pop-up clinics so we can achieve the result.

“Our focus now turns to the second doses. We have about 3300 to go and we think that is achievable by the end of the month.”

Vaccination rates for Māori are lower, with 85.7 percent having had one dose and 74.6 percent two.

“We are not going to let up,” the spokeswoman said. “We have so many things planned for this weekend, with Super Sunday on again and that will be at Uawa, Ruatoria, Pak'nSave and the drive-through at Te Poho-o-Rawiri Marae.

“Leading up to Christmas you will see twilight pop-ups, we are just going to go as hard as we can until Christmas.”

Vaccination teams will have two weeks off from Christmas, meaning the only vaccination clinic open until January 10 will be the community vaccination clinic on Palmerston Road from 10am to 2pm daily.