SWDC wants to drive COVID-19 vaccination rate up

Released: Wednesday 6 October 2021

Mayor and Councillors at the South Waikato District Council are supporting the South Waikato COVID-19 vaccination effort the best way they can – by stepping up and getting vaccinated themselves.

“All of our Councillors, including me, are double vaccinated, said Mayor Jenny Shattock. “It’s important that our team takes a leadership role in the vaccination effort and our community deserves us to take the lead towards double vaccination.”

34% of those eligible to be vaccinated in the South Waikato have been double vaccinated, with 61% having received their first dose. The South Waikato is at the low end of vaccination rates when compared to other districts in the Waikato region.

“Now that we can delay our second vaccination by six to eight weeks we are confident that those who have had their first dose will be back in due course to have their second jab and I’m sure our double vaccination rate will increase significantly,” continued Mayor Shattock.

Most of our towns and communities are on main roads and that increases the risks to our communities when goods being transported up and down the country and throughout the district.

“Council is working with Raukawa, South Waikato Pacific Island Community Services (SWPICS) and others to help protect the most vulnerable in our community by improving our vaccination rates for the wider Waikato community,” she continued. “Our proximity to Auckland makes us all vulnerable, as we have seen in the most recent border change to include parts of Hamilton and northern Waikato.”

Raukawa, South Waikato Pacific Island Community Services, District Health Board and our local health staff are to be commended on their efforts both at the COVID testing and vaccination pop up sites during the most recent lockdown. The team at the Vaccination Centre in Leith Place in Tokoroa is making significant impact on our vaccination status. There are three pop-up vaccination centres at local schools – Tokoroa High, Putāruru High and Tainui Primary during the school holidays too.

“We are determined to do our part in the fight against COVID,” concluded Mayor Shattock.

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Details – South Waikato public vaccination centres:

• Tokoroa Whare Rongoā ĀraimateVaccination Centre, 203 Leith Place, Tokoroa: Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9am to 4pm; Thursday 11am to 6pm, bookings at bookmyvaccine.co.nz and walk-ins welcome
• Tokoroa Whare Rongoā ĀraimateVaccination Centre (SWIPICS drive-through), 1 Maraetai Road, Tokoroa: every Saturday, 10am to 3pm, phone 0800 SWPICS beforehand
• Pop-up vaccination site, Tainui Full Primary: Friday 8 October, 10am to 3pm, register interest 07 886 9860, bookings not required
• Pop-up vaccination site, Tokoroa High and Intermediate School: Monday 11 October, 10am to 3pm, register interest 07 886 6109, bookings not required. Enter via Billah Street and exit out Maraetai Road.
• Pop-up vaccination site, Putāruru College: Tuesday 12 October, 10am to 3pm, register interest 07 883 8323, bookings not required
• Tokoroa Family Health, Gate 3, Tokoroa Hospital: call 07 886 8777 to make a booking
• Tokoroa Medical Centre, 57-75 Maraetai Road, Tokoroa: call 07 886 8777 to make a booking
• DHB mobile vaccination service:
  • Thursday 7 October, Tīrau Community Church, 31 Main Road, Tīrau, 10am to 3pm
  • Friday 8 October, Tainui Full Primary, 10am to 3pm
    OR
• Visit www.bookmyvaccine.co.nz