Seven unvaccinated Northland DHB staff resign - 98 still making decision

Seven Northland District Health Board staff who refused Covid-19 vaccination have resigned. Photo / Tania Whyte

Seven of the more than 100 Northland District Health Board's unvaccinated staff who have been stood down have resigned.

Figures released District Health Boards show 98 unvaccinated Northland DHB staff had been stood down as at 9am on Monday this week for failing to get their first dose of the Covid vaccination by the deadline on November 15.

A further seven have resigned after indicating they would not have the vaccination.

From the 98 currently stood down, 35 are nurses, eight midwives, four doctors and 51 are classified as others.

Four nurses and three classified as others have resigned.

Throughout all DHBs, 1028 people have been stood down nationally, 92 resigned, and 341 had their employment terminated.

No Northland DHB staff have had their employment terminated as at Monday morning and the DHB is in discussions with the 98.

"Service delivery impacts will vary between DHBs and mitigations are in place where needed to minimise any impact to services. These include careful staff rostering, and close monitoring of any areas where there may be staff shortage," DHBs said.

On Covid case numbers, Northland has had three more cases added to the list on Wednesday and five new locations of interest added by the Ministry of Health.

The new locations of interest are:
Caltex Petrol Station, Western Hills Drive, Whangārei, Tuesday, November 23, 10.15am-10.30am; Countdown Regent, Saturday, November 20, from 4.15pm-4.45pm; Far North Pharmacy, Kaitaia, Friday, November 19, 8.35am-8.55am; Unichem Pharmacy, Reyburn St, Whangārei, Thursday, November 18 from 9.15am-9.25am and again from 3pm-3.10pm that day.

The total number of cases in the region is 72.

Of the three new cases, two are in Kaitaia, one of whom is unlinked, the other is a close contact of an existing case and was already isolating. The third case is located in Whangārei, is a close contact of an existing case, and is already isolating.

A Northland DHB spokeswoman said one of the Kaitaia cases was a close contact of a known case and attended a local school.

The case had been at the school while infectious before they entered isolation. The public health team is working closely with the school and the Ministry of Education.

Public health teams are undertaking interviews and any additional locations of interest will be advised in due course.

The spokeswoman said 29 cases were active in home isolation, 43 have been released from isolation, and there were no cases in hospital.