SOUTH CANTERBURY ACHIEVES 90% DOUBLE VACCINATED MILESTONE
The South Canterbury district achieved the 90% double vaccinated milestone today, just in time for the Christmas holidays. This milestone has been the result of very hard work by our general practices, pharmacies, Arowhenua Whānau Services and the COVID-19 vaccination teams.
“This is a major achievement for the vaccination programme and the whole district,” South Canterbury DHB Chief Executive Jason Power says. “Thank you to the people of the South Canterbury for doing your bit to keep yourselves and your community safe. We also give a huge thanks to our vaccinators and administrators across South Canterbury for delivering close to 100,000 vaccinations to our communities.”
In South Canterbury we have 52,584 people over the age of 12 eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccination. 94% of the eligible population have had their first dose and 90% are now double vaccinated.
South Canterbury’s overall vaccination rate is very encouraging, but we must remember that while the district may be at 90% double vaccinated, there are still pockets with low levels of vaccinations, and it is these communities that are particularly at risk in a local outbreak. These include some of our Māori populations, says Jason Power.
South Canterbury’s Māori population is currently sitting in line with the national Māori vaccination rates, with 87% of the eligible population have had their first dose, and 79% double vaccinated. To reach 90% we need another 88 first doses and 385 second doses.
We are still seeing strong demand for first and second doses, and we will continue working hard to reach unvaccinated people to give them the best chance to protect themselves and their loved ones from COVID-19.
Having two doses of the vaccine and the Booster dose when eligible will provide the best protection against the COVID-19 virus, and it will protect your health, your families/whanau and our younger children who are not able to receive the vaccine. This also allows the health system to be able to respond to all of the needs of our community not just COVID-19.
It is important for our community to get vaccinated now before COVID-19 hits South Canterbury as it takes up to five weeks after the first dose to get full protection from the vaccine. This is not a case of “if” but “when” this will occur as COVID-19 cases can reach the South Canterbury at any time.
There is a lot of misinformation around on the vaccine so it is important if you have questions that you have a discussion with your general practice team to allow you to make an informed choice.
Click here to see the COVID-19 clinics available over the Christmas period where you can get a COVID-19 vaccine without an appointment!
Holiday reminder
People should stick to the basics to reduce the risk of catching and spreading COVID-19 over the Christmas and New Year break.
That means wearing a mask or face covering and physical distancing in crowded or unventilated spaces, and scanning in using the COVID-19 Tracer app or keeping a manual diary.
As always, people who have any symptoms that could be COVID-19 are asked to get a test and stay at home until they receive a negative result.
For the COVID-19 Testing clinic hours over the Christmas period click here:
https://www.scdhb.health.nz/about-us/news-publications-media/news/Covid-19-where-to-get-tested