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Increased demand for vaccinations since the lockdown, demonstrated by the success of the Manukau drive through, has put pressure on health providers, leading to long waiting times for that first jab.
Yesterday, an Orewa couple in their 60s, looking to book a vaccination as close to home as possible, found nothing available until October on the Coast, Albany or the North Shore. They are not alone in being unwilling to drive into the city or further afield for their vaccination, even though this is permitted as essential travel.
Two local pharmacies, Unichem Manly and Life Pharmacy Orewa, have trained vaccinators ready to go but are still waiting for final sign off, in the form of an audit from the DHB. The DHB advises that Life Pharmacy Orewa could start offering the vaccine in early September.
Silverdale Medical, Whangaparaoa Medical and Hibiscus Coast Medical are currently working through their registered patients and Orewa Medical Centre, which is offering vaccinations to the general public, has been inundated since lockdown, with nothing available until October.
A spokesperson for the Northern Region Health Coordination Centre says more local GPs and some pharmacies are coming on board soon.
“As the status of GP clinics and pharmacies changes daily, people should check the HealthPoint website. We’re asking vaccinating GP clinics and pharmacies to keep their HealthPoint website up-to-date,” the spokesperson says.
“We are also currently investigating other options to make it easier for people living in the area to get their vaccinations, and will share more information on this shortly.”
As soon as those “other options” are revealed, we will update this story.
