Almost a year after the first Covid-19 vaccinations were administered, the West Coast DHB has hit the 90 percent vaccination target.
People line up at a Covid-19 vaccination centre Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
Of the eligible population, 25,120 had now received two doses of the vaccine.
West Coast DHB vaccination programme manager Helen Gillespie said reaching people in the outlying communities, between Karamea and Haast was no small feat, with more than 60,000 doses of the vaccine delivered in just over nine months.
"It's huge, Omicron is around the corner and the more people that we've got vaccinated, the better off our little health system here on the West Coast will be.
"Nationally, we all appreciate that Omicron might mean more cases managed in our own homes or in our communities and that we look after each other, closer to home."
For some living on the coast, it was a long way to go to get hospital level care.
"As a community, the more of us are vaccinated, the more we can look after each other."
She said they were still working to ensure the Māori population on the West Coast reached the same target, with 89 percent having had one dose and 84 percent having had two doses.
It meant 26 more vaccinations were needed for West Coast Māori to reach 90 percent partially vaccinated and 157 in order to hit 90 percent fully vaccinated which would be another cause for celebration.
Gillespie said this weekend, the mobile vaccination team would start a five-week road trip as part of the vaccine rollout for tamariki.
It was working alongside Māori health provider Poutini Waiora, West Coast Primary Health Organisation, general practices and pharmacies, lead maternity carers and midwives, community leaders and community providers to roll out the vaccination programme.
Last weekend, more than 102 tamariki and adults were vaccinated at the Arahura Marae clinic in Hotkitika run by Poutini Waiora.
West Coast DHB's Senior Responsible Officer for the Covid-19 response Philip Wheble said reaching the milestone was fantastic.
"I'm hopeful that because of our high vaccination rates, we won't see many West Coasters falling seriously ill even if they catch Covid-19."
He said vaccination teams had been working hard for 10 months to reach the target.
"We are committed to continuing to encourage all eligible West Coasters to get vaccinated including our 5-11-year old tamariki. We have a range of vaccination clinic options available across the Coast with our mobile clinics and drive-through vaccination events seeing our vaccination teams visiting where people live and work.
Details for vaccination clinics on the West Coast can be found here.
Wheble said it was a good time for people to ensure they were prepared for if they caught Covid-19.
"Readiness is about people and communities being prepared to support each other. It is things like deciding what whānau can do when someone tests positive, making lists of those who can help, working out how to get food and essential items, and what else you need when isolating."