NZNO organiser Justine Sachs said the roll-out had been going well, with 90 per cent of ADHB staff having received their first dose. With most members’ vaccinations completed, NZNO and PSA organisers were also invited, and “jumped at the chance”, Sachs said. “We are often in and out of hospitals and aged-care facilities and want to play our part in keeping members and the public safe.”
Sachs said the organisers encouraged all health-care workers who were hesitant to get vaccinated, which was “quick and relatively painless”, she said. “Either way, receiving immunity from COVID-19 is well worth a slightly sore arm.”
Nationally, DHBs were ahead of vaccination targets, by 109 per cent, in early June, the latest Ministry of Health figures say. Under the roll-out, border workers and their families are first in line to be vaccinated, followed by frontline workers including health-care and residential aged care, followed by at-risk populations. The general population rollout is scheduled to begin from late July.
ADHB board members were criticised after they received their vaccination in March, ahead of staff. A spokeswoman said they were leading “by example” and wanted to encourage uptake by staff.