Aucklanders may be able to get their Covid-19 vaccinations at a drive through - if the tricky logistics can be sorted.
The consent form for the Covid 19 vaccination at a facility in South Auckland Photo: RNZ / Simon Rogers
Some doctors are pushing to get the drive-throughs up-and-running, and say having options to make getting vaccinated as easy as possible for everyone is important.
Papakura GP and roll-out advisor Rawiri Jansen said drive-throughs had worked well for flu vaccines and could be done for Covid-19.
The vaccination required a 20-minute observation period afterwards to check for uncommon side effects, like fainting, or a very rare allergic reaction.
That could be done with medical staff keeping an eye on the car park, in the same way they would a waiting room, Dr Jansen said.
They would check in with people before their injection to make sure they knew what to do but would also be keeping an eye on them, he said.
Papakura GP and roll-out advisor Rawiri Jansen. Photo: SUPPLIED
"If you feel unwell, bump your horn, if anybody is in your car unwell, yell for help," he said.
Lemalu Silao Vaisola Sefo is the head of South Seas medical centre, which ran the huge drive through Covid-19 testing centre in Ōtara.
With a few tweaks, the model would work for vaccines, and could be held one or two days a week, he said.
"On a Sunday there are 300 or 400 free carparks, you could bring your family, maybe four in a car," he said.
Drive-through clinics were common overseas where vaccines are delivered under emergency conditions.
Counties Manukau DHB chief executive Margie Apa said the city's district health boards were hoping to include them but there was a lot to work through first.
Counties Manukau DHB chief executive Margie Apa. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
"Of course it's going to need quite a lot of car parking space which is at a premium in Auckland and then just reworking the model of how would we make sure that people are recovering in the appropriate time before they leave - so there's lots of logistics to that," she said.
Two mass vaccinations clinics were up-and-running in the city, with 22 sights of all different sizes due to be in action by the end of the month.
There would also be some large special events in the second half of the year to vaccinate tens of thousands of people in one day at places like Eden Park.
Vaisola-Sefo said the large vaccination clinics were a great way to get through a lot of people but options - including drive throughs - were crucial.
"For me it's just having another door for people to get vaccinated, it's removing barriers for people," he said.
Jansen said he also wanted to see more progress on mobile clinics to reach those who struggled with mobility or live in remote areas.
Now the Pfizer vaccine could be stored at higher temperatures than previously thought, that would be easier, he said.
And all the options will need staff so the Ministry of Health and District Health Boards must work faster to get vaccinators trained and ready to work, he said.