85% (up 3.7%) of Taranaki people are fully vaccinated
91% (up 1.1%) of Taranaki people have received their first dose
70% (up 7.7%) of Taranaki Māori are fully vaccinated
83% (up 3.8%) of Taranaki Māori have received their first dose
84% (up 5%) of Taranaki Pacific people are fully vaccinated
97% (up 3.2%) of Taranaki Pacific people have received their first dose
179,703
doses have been administered to people living in Taranaki
5,108
doses to go to reach 90% fully vaccinated
(as of Dec 7, 2021. Percentages indicate increase over the last seven days)
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Taranaki Programme Weekly Update
After the excitement of reaching the 90% milestone for first doses for the total population last week, we are now steadily building towards the same milestone for second doses!
As a region, Taranaki is now sitting at 85% of the total population fully vaccinated – and with numbers rising a percentage point around every three-to-four days, we are on track to hit 90% just before Christmas.
Māori vaccination rates are also maintaining their upward trend – now sitting at 83% for first doses and a much-improved 70% for second doses.
As the holiday season approaches and more people are travelling around the country to visit friends and whānau to celebrate Christmas and enjoy a good old Kiwi summer, the likelihood of the COVID-19 virus spreading is far more likely.
So ensuring you are fully vaccinated is still vitally important in managing the outbreak, reducing transmission rates and preventing our health service from becoming overwhelmed.
Those aged 18 years and over can receive a booster shot six months after their second dose, which helps to maintain the levels of protection immunisation provides. You will receive a text message or an email when your booster is due.
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Don’t Wait, Vaccinate – and WIN
Big prizes are up for grabs this month in a new incentive campaign launched by Te Aranga on behalf of Ngā Iwi o Taranaki.
The campaign offers daily, weekly and major prizes that total $15,000 to anyone getting vaccinated at any Māori Health Provider clinic – just take a selfie with your vaccination card at a participating clinic and you are in the draw to win!
It runs until Sunday 19 December and participating clinics will be posted at the beginning of each week on www.dontwait.co.nz.
To be in the draw to win vouchers worth up to $3,500 and festival tickets to LAB, just fill in the entry form and upload your photo here.
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Support via text for deaf or hard of hearing
If you are (or someone you know is) deaf or hard of hearing, there's a new text service for you.
A simple text to 8988 gives access to vaccination information, help with booking a vaccination appointment, or support to arrange transport to get vaccinated.
The service, run by Whakarongorau Aotearoa on behalf of the Ministry of Health, is in response to feedback from the disability community and is an addition to the COVID Vaccination Healthline, which already offers dedicated phone and email support for disabled people and people living with impairments to get their COVID-19 vaccination.
To access this support;
- Call the COVID Vaccination Healthline Team on 0800 28 29 26 and push '2'. The Disability COVID Vaccination Healthline team is available from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday, or;
- Use the new free text option – text 8988 or;
- Email the team at accessiblecovidvaccinations@whakarongorau.nz
Alternatively, disabled people can use the NZ Relay Service to contact Health Line, which offers services for deaf, hard of hearing, speech impaired and deafblind people via www.nzrelay.co.nz or the NZ Relay App.
The NZ Relay Service helpdesk is open 24/7 and can be reached by:
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Calling all Rangatahi composers!
The Young Buck Yarns from Ngaruahine are running a very cool competition with a musical kaupapa!
Anyone aged between 15 and 30 years old are invited to submit a waiata, pao or haka in regards to Covid 19 - Te mate urutā!
The waiata and pao - rap, entries can be bilingual or te reo māori, but a traditional pao or a haka must be in te reo.
Entries close on December 15 - find out more on the Ngaruahine Facebook page!
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Talking to friends and family
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AstraZeneca available at a clinic near you
While the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine continues to be New Zealand’s primary vaccine, AstraZeneca is now available as an alternative.
It is for those who cannot have the Pfizer for genuine medical reasons and those who need immunisation due to the nature of their work (like healthcare workers), but have other reasons not to have the Pfizer vaccine.
AstraZeneca clinics are being held on Wednesday evenings from 5pm to 8pm at the New Plymouth Vaccination Centre (109 Powderham Street) and Hāwera Vaccination Centre (TSB Hub, Camberwell Road).
You’ll need to book your vaccine and if you’ve already had a Pfizer dose you’ll need to speak with your health provider and get a prescription.
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Don't forget you can still book an appointment at one of our main vaccination centres, with one of our GP or pharmacy partner-providers, or with your Māori health provider - whatever works for you!
It is so easy to do - the online booking portal Book My Vaccine makes the process very straightforward - and has a booking availability tool so you can see at a glance where clinics are and what appointment times they have free.
Check out if your doctor is offering COVID-19 vaccinations at Healthpoint.
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Having vaccination conversations can be difficult when different perspectives and opinions are part of the kōrero.
