Hundreds of central Taranaki residents braved squally showers and a long queue to attend a scaled-back rural mass vaccination event in Stratford today.
The weather did not discourage those wishing to be vaccinated in Stratford. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
The clinic had 800 bookings and the capacity to vaccinate 900 people.
Earlier this month a similar first-dose event delivered about 2400 shots, while a further 500 went unused on the day.
By mid-morning a line of mask-wearing people, doing their best to maintain social distancing, was snaking down Miranda Street and wrapping right around the Stratford War Memorial Centre.
The buzz of a large-scale community event evident at the clinic two weeks ago had been replaced with a sense of urgency.
Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Truck driver Steve, who has had a rethink about the vaccine, was in the queue.
"I sort of thought that this vaccination needed to be tested for longer and I was sort of holding off to see what happens, but I think the chances of something more serious happening to me now are more prevalent, so yeah, time to get it done I think.
"I've still got my reservations, but I think in the future we're going to need it to do anything. Whether we travel or whether we go anywhere we're going to need some kind of verification that we've been vaccinated."
Steve has had a rethink on the need for a vaccination. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Steve was concerned about Jan Watts who was in the line beside him.
"I'm happy enough to queue and of course there can be problems anywhere, but when you get an older person like this in the rain and a 9.10am booking it doesn't go down to well, but hey I suppose we just have to put up with it."
Not that Watts was worried about herself.
"Well, this is what I can't quite understand. I'm 83 and why are they asking us oldies to have the vaccine when the younger ones need it more."
Jan Watts believes vaccinating young people is more important than people in her age-group. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
She said Taranaki District Health Board staff had come to see her while she waited in line.
"They came out and gave me a chair because I've got a walking stick. They've been marvellous, absolutely marvellous."
Operational planner for the vaccination programme Rachel Court said level 4 restrictions meant the clinic at the War Memorial Centre could not vaccinate as many people as previously and the queue was longer.
"The biggest thing is the safety. The actual process is exactly the same as it normally is in regards to the vaccine drawdown and the administration.
"The things we just have to be mindful of are are the 2-metre distancing, people coming in have to have masks, hand hygiene and we have to make sure that a health check is done when people come in and they are well."
Safety is a priority at the vaccination clinic, Rachel Court says. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Court said there had been a similar early rush at the first mass vaccination clinic.
"So it's not so much that we were not expecting people, but perhaps there is a few more people than we were expecting today especially with regards to walk-ins."
DHB staff had established a second line for walk-ins, who included frontline workers from Stratford's supermarkets who were being given vaccinations despite not having booked.
Rob Nixon, who was queuing with the whole family including two teenagers, could understand why there was a queue.
"I guess it's all changed because of the level 4, so I'm sure if we weren't in level 4 this would've got done a lot quicker. It is what it is. We haven't got anything else to do today anyhow."
Rob Nixon and his family. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Wendy Hunger said the Delta outbreak was a game changer and she was willing to queue in the rain to get her first jab.
"Because it makes you realise how fast Covid can move and with the second jab it means you're not going to get it so harshly. You will get it but not as harsh. If I can see my mokopuna and my mum it's worth standing in the rain for."