Taranaki Programme Weekly Update

The fantastic mahi the COVID-19 Vaccination team is doing has been very much in the media spotlight this week with lots of newspaper stories, radio segments and even some television appearances for our SRO, Bevan!

This all highlighted how many different opportunities there are for Taranaki people to receive their free, safe and effective COVID-19 vaccination with plenty of appointments available at large community clinics, pop-up clinics, in pharmacies and GP clinics, and on offer from our Māori health providers.

We are encouraging anyone who is still to receive their first dose to visit a clinic and get it done before Labour Weekend. If you have a booking for after October 25, please reschedule it using the link in your booking confirmation. There are plenty of appointments available - the full list of clinics with availability can be found online at BookMyVaccine.nz, or call 0800 28 29 26 for help.

Just walk-in this weekend at New Plymouth racecourse community clinic

There are plenty of opportunities to have your COVID-19 vaccination this weekend at the La Mer lounge at New Plymouth Racecourse.

The clinic is open from 9am - 4pm to anyone aged 12 or over who still needs to receive their first dose. Bookings can be made online at BookMyVaccine.nz, or by calling 0800 28 29 26 (8am-8pm, 7 days).

Walk-in appointments are also available - bring the whole whānau!

Vaccinator gifts beautiful artwork to programme

A beautiful whāriki artwork, made with Harakeke flax harvested from Ngāmotu beach, has been gifted to the New Plymouth Vaccination Clinic by it's creator - who also works for the programme.

Maggie Sawtell and her daughter Lisa created the raranga, and named it Ki Te Ao Mārama (Towards the world of light). The strands of flax were softened, boiled and dyed to create the colours inspired by the sun setting over Paritutu and the earth beneath our feet.

Maggie has been with the programme for several months, administering vaccines across the rohe to thousands of Taranaki people.

She says the weaving patterns in the whāriki of Whakapuareare (holes) symbolises windows of light falling on us as we look forward to a life where we can come together in light and warmth to connect once more.

Nui rawa te whakawhetai kia koe for your gift, Maggie and Lisa, and the vision of the future it gives us.

Time for your second dose!

Anyone who received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on or before August 11 should check they have a second dose appointment booked in the next week or so.

If you need to book a second dose, go online to BookMyVaccine.nz, or call 0800 28 29 26, or attend a walk-in clinic.

It is very important that you receive both doses of the Pfizer vaccine to have the best protection against the virus. Receiving both doses means that you have a 95% chance of not needing hospital treatment should you contract COVID-19.

Remember you can check what appointments are available to get your COVID-19 vaccination on BookMyVaccine!

In the Media

Our Bacon Butty Breakfast clinic yesterday certainly captured the nation's imagination, with both Seven Sharp and One News here to film the event, along with Radio NZ and the Taranaki Daily News - who put it on the front page!

Our very own Haim Ainsworth - one of our valued vaccinating team - was also featured, telling his story of giving back to the Taranaki people.

Here is a selection of the media coverage the programme has received over the past week.

Bacon butties help fuel Taranaki vaccination rollout | RNZ News

Taranaki health board bringing out the bacon to get more people vaccinated against Covid-19 | Stuff.co.nz

No time for Covid complacency, say Taranaki leaders | Stuff.co.nz

We are in Alert Level 2

There are no restrictions on who can be included in your household bubble.

You can go to work and school - but please follow the guidelines about wearing masks and social distancing.

Make sure you track where you go when out and about - using the NZ COVID Tracer app is the easiest way.

For national updates - visit Unite against COVID-19

For Taranaki DHB updates - visit the website at www.tdhb.org.nz and like the Taranaki DHB Facebook page

For Taranaki COVID-19 Vaccination Programme updates - visit the website at www.tdhb.org.nz/covid19/vaccine.shtml

RESOURCES

The Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC) has a new website dedicated to COVID-19.

The app Āwhina lets you access information from the Ministry of Health and other trusted sources on your mobile device and sends out notifications on key COVID-19 vaccine announcements. You can download Āwhina here

The MoH COVID-19 Vaccine Resources page is full of useful information, frequently asked questions and also fact sheets in multiple languages

Data and statistics about the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in New Zealand can be found here.

HealthPathways platforms nationwide have published (or will soon publish) COVID-19 Vaccination Information pages. General practices can log into their local HealthPathways site to access this useful information.

Government cyber security agency CERT NZ has published guidance on how to protect your organisation when communicating about the vaccine on CERT NZ’s website.

Unite Against COVID-19 contains a multitude of resources on the COVID-19 vaccine, including the latest government announcements.

Medsafe’s website has COVID-19 vaccine approval information and vaccine reports.

Medsafe also publishes data sheets and consumer medicine information for approved COVID-19 vaccines.

Contact us at communications@tdhb.org.nz

31.2% of Taranaki people are fully protected 65.1% of Taranaki people have received their first dose 98,310 doses have been administered to people living in Taranaki (as of 11.59pm, Sept 21)