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Wellington, November 7, 2021
Counties Manukau DHB has hit the 90% target for Covid-19 Vaccine first doses today, bringing all of Tamaki Makaurau over the line for first doses.
Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins announced the milestone tonight.
Auckland will move to the traffic light system after three DHBs are 90% fully vaccinated.
Auckland DHB is now at 95% first doses and 87% second doses. Waitemata DHB is at 92% and 83%, while Counties Manukau is now at 90% first doses and 80% second doses.
“Auckland is leading the way with Vaccinations, and it is exciting to see Counties Manukau reach that all-important 90% first dose figure,” Hipkins said in a statement.
Traffic Light System coming
He described this as an important step closer to Auckland transitioning to the new Traffic Light System which means restrictions will ease once each DHB is 90% second dose.
“There has been a huge amount of targeted work going on by local health providers to make Vaccines easily accessible and to address hesitancy. It is really pleasing to see that work paying off. In particular, the work of Maori and Pacific providers in Counties Manukau is succeeding. Getting to 90% first doses required pulling out all the stops in Auckland. This has included literally going door to door to ensure people are vaccinated,” he said.
According to Mr Hipkins, getting every DHB in Auckland up to 90% fully vaccinated is within reach. He said that on current daily rates, we could be there within three weeks so long as people return for their second dose.
“Extraordinary Achievement”
Manurewa-Papakura Ward Councillor Daniel Newman said, “This is an extraordinary achievement and it comes as Counties Manukau battles Covid-19 seeding in homes and neighbourhoods across South Auckland. But every Vaccination means that we are stronger in the face of this growing threat. When Delta hit in August, we had only 20% protection. Now, we have 90% first dose coverage and 80% of our eligible population is fully vaccinated.”
The ‘Got Ya Dot’ campaign targeted rangatahi and other Vaccination efforts this weekend followed up on second doses for those first vaccinated on ‘Super Saturday’ last month.
Around the country, Tairawhiti has the lowest number of first doses at 80% followed by Northland at 81%. New Zealand as a whole will move on to the so-called traffic light system, once every region reaches 90% double Vaccination.
The system offers more freedoms than at Alert Level 3 and eliminates almost all lockdowns.
-Published under a Special Agreement with www.rnz.co.nz
