‘Nothing to it’: ease of jab setup praised

A drive-through Covid-19 vaccination clinic was held for the first time in Queenstown yesterday, and will continue until Saturday.

Organiser Debbie Swain-Rewi said the clinic at the Queenstown Events Centre car park was a test run, with 85 vaccinations given in about 90 minutes.

From today it is open to anyone aged 12 and older, and bookings are not required.

It will run from noon until at least 4pm today and tomorrow, and then from 10am from Thursday until Saturday.

Ms Swain-Rewi said the aim was to vaccinate at least 500 people a day, and was particularly focused on encouraging the district’s Maori population to get vaccinations.

"Our aim is to get as many whanau as we can to come here comfortably, and be happy to be vaccinated."

Evan Johnston, of Kingston, gets a Covid-19 vaccination from Brendon McIntosh at the Queenstown...
Evan Johnston, of Kingston, gets a Covid-19 vaccination from Brendon McIntosh at the Queenstown Events Centre yesterday.PHOTO: GUY WILLIAMS

When the Covid-19 alert level was reduced, vaccination clinics would begin at facilities in smaller communities including Arrowtown, Kingston and Glenorchy, she said.

Evan Johnston, of Kingston, said the clinic was well organised, and he waited only 20 minutes for his jab.

He encouraged everyone to come and "get it done".

"There’s nothing to it, it’s over before you know it."

Queenstown man Paul Sadler said the drive-through clinic was a "piece of cake".

"It’s easier than getting bloods taken, or getting a flu jab."

Queenstown Medical Centre chief executive Ashley Light said its vaccination clinic was put on hold last Wednesday, but would restart at the Queenstown Memorial Centre on Thursday from 8am.

People who had been booked to have a vaccination since last Wednesday should have received a text message by now about their appointment at the new venue.

Those who had not should call the Covid-19 vaccination helpline.

Mr Light said Covid-19 testing continued at its Isle St clinic throughout last week, with an average of 200 swabs a day taken on week days and about 120 a day at the weekend.

guy.williams@odt.co.nz

Comments

"He encouraged everyone to come and "get it done".

"There’s nothing to it, it’s over before you know it."

Queenstown man Paul Sadler said the drive-through clinic was a "piece of cake".

"It’s easier than getting bloods taken, or getting a flu jab."
So why isn't there proper information out there instead of talk such as the above, why isn't there INFORMED CONSENT?.....

 

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