Covid-19 vaccinations have begun in Waikato, starting with the vaccinators themselves.
The region will begin immunising its border workers at managed isolation MIQ facilities from Friday (File image). Photo: Supplied / Ministry of Health
Aotearoa's vaccine roll-out got officially underway last week in Auckland, with about 100 vaccinators receiving their first Pfizer jab.
This afternoon, 28 people received the first of their two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine at a dedicated centre in Hamilton.
The region will begin immunising its border workers at managed isolation (MIQ) facilities from Friday.
The first stage of the vaccine rollout prioritises border workers and the managed isolation and quarantine workforce, and their household contacts.
Public health nurse Dawn Tamati was first in line to get the vaccine.
She said it was a critical step in the fight against the virus and protecting the community.
"I feel quite privileged to be the first one to get the vaccine. I truly believe in immunisations, they're so important and I feel like I'm doing my part. Immunisations are about keeping our whānau, our hapū, our iwi and our communities well, and I feel like I'm doing that today."
Leanne Smith, who administered the first injection, said it was "quite an honour" to do it.
"It's been such a wait for something that we've all wanted and to actually start vaccinating is exciting. I felt humbled to be asked to be the first in Waikato to give the vaccine."
She said the arrival of the vaccine was a significant milestone for the country and the region.
"We're making history and it is something our whānau will talk about for many, many generations."
Ikimoke Tamaki-Takarei manages cultural intervention for the region's MIQ facilities and also received his first dose today.
He said it was important for border workers to be the first line of protection for the community.
"As part of border control for Covid-19, it's our responsibility to keep our families safe. We go home to our families every night. I return home to my new mokopuna, so it's my responsibility to keep her safe, to keep my children safe, and my immediate family safe," he said.
"A lot of our vulnerable whānau and our kaumātua suffer from some sort of respiratory illness, so we have to be able to protect them by getting a vaccine."
Waikato District Health Board said household contacts of MIQ workers would receive their jab by appointment at the dedicated centre.