An initiative to get people vaccinated against Covid-19 in New Plymouth this morning using the lure of a free bacon buttie is being hailed a success.
Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
The city's vaccination centre threw out the appointment book and put on breakfast and an espresso for anyone getting a jab between 7am and 9am.
Head of the region's vaccination programme, Bevan Clayton-Smith, said the response had been excellent.
"There's been a steady stream of people coming in from 7am onwards. In fact some people came in before and that was okay.
"And a lot of people just walking [here] trying to change existing bookings and we've been happy to accommodate that as well."
The bacon buttie has proved popular. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Clayton-Smith said there was no requirement to make a booking and the early morning start was proving a huge motivating factor for tradies in particular to come in for their vaccination.
The pop up bacon buttie vaccination event in New Plymouth has been popular with tradies Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
"An important thing has also been the time some people are on the way to work and it's on the way for some people from work to home - shiftworkers - so that's probably something we have to explore to make it [getting a vaccination] more accessible."
He said the free bacon buttie and espresso was just a bonus for many.
Concrete layer Nathan Beard reckoned the bacon butties were 'awesome!' Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin