Editorial: Prime Minister- don't keep us in the dark

The vaccine is costing the country billions of dollars _ God forbid any of it is being poured down the sink. Photo / NZME

Please Prime Minister — don't keep secrets.

If something goes wrong or has the potential to go wrong — tell us.

The Covid-19 vaccination rollout has not gone to plan even after the outbreak in Auckland, resulting in an upsurge of people willing to be vaccinated.

When people don't know what's happening at top level, they make assumptions.
Like Chinese whispers, something may start off with a tiny bit of truth in it but by the time it gets to the tenth person the story is completely different.

I have heard many people say "just go to a vaccination centre at the end of the day, if there are spares, you will get a jab".

Is that true?

It may well be because it appears the reminder system is broken.

I had my first vaccination on July 30. I received a reminder via text the day before.

I was under the impression my second vaccination would be three weeks later.

However, when I had my jab the next appointment was booked for five weeks and two days away.

I queried this and was told "the vaccinations can be up to six weeks apart and it actually works better if you leave it for 6 weeks".

I never doubted that statement at the time but in hindsight I'm pretty sure that the Government was worried about running out.

That was of course before the latest Delta outbreak.

Labour had time to replenish stocks and perhaps was just being a bit cautious.

Linda Hall is assistant editor at Hawke' Bay Today

Then all hell broke loose with the Delta Variant. Suddenly everyone wanted a vaccination.

Here's where plans went out the door.

And reminders for second vaccinations seemed to stop.

I got a reminder about my first vaccination, but not my second. And neither did anyone else I have asked.

I rang to check when my second vaccination was, it turned out it was that day.
They told me the reminder system "was broken".

This raises two questions for me.

Why didn't the Government, put that news out through its DHBs?
All it would have taken was a simple sentence to the media.

And what happens to all the vaccinations that don't get used because people don't turn up?

The vaccine is costing the country billions of dollars - God forbid any of it is being poured down the sink.

According to Labour we are a team of five million.

We can't be that if the team captain keeps us in the dark.