Stuff Digital Edition

Groceries for a jab hard to resist

Mike Mather mike.mather@stuff.co.nz

The added incentive of $100 vouchers for those getting their Covid-19 jabs at a drive-through vaccination station in Hamilton has proved a big success.

K’aute Pasifika Trust’s ‘‘popup’’ vaccination centre in Richmond St has been giving the occupants of each vehicle the Pak ’n Save vouchers as part of an instantaneous ‘‘thank-you’’ to people for protecting themselves, their families and the community from the lethal threat of the virus.

A story on Stuff about the charitable initiative prompted a big surge in cars pulling through the drive-through on Tuesday – so many that they ran out of vouchers before the end of the day – and business was again busy yesterday morning.

But, as trust health team leader Terereawai Kipa-Kearns says, Tuesday was not even their biggest turnout.

‘‘We had a busy one on Tuesday – we had 211 cars through. But one day about two weeks ago we had 250 cars through on one week day, which was a few days before Super Saturday when we had 406 cars through.

‘‘It appears a lot of people thought about the benefits of getting vaccinated over the long weekend. It seems that a lot of people are slowly realising it is the right thing to do. And the publicity about the vouchers doesn’t hurt either.’’

One major visible benefit was that more Māori were coming through the drive-through.

‘‘The engagement has really worked. Previously we had about 10 cars with Māori and Māori families coming through a day. On Tuesday, after the news about the incentives we have got out, we had 110 cars with Māori coming through.

‘‘The incentive is getting them here. The main focus for us is just getting everyone vaxxed as soon as possible – to get the Waikato District Health Board area up to 90 per cent double doses by doing whatever it takes.

‘‘The initiative seems to be working and it is really good to see . . . Whatever we can do to help, we want to do it to get everyone protected.’’

Among those getting vaccinated yesterday morning was Hamilton mum Anne Tomu, who had long been in trepidation of getting her first shot.

‘‘I suffer from really bad

anxiety. I have been really anxious about getting vaccinated, because I was in fear of getting really sick afterward.’’

Tomu’s husband and other family members and friends had been vaccinated but she remained hesitant . But worry about her three daughters and her mother – who is at risk – pushed her.

‘‘It has been a major achievement to get over my anxiety. In the end, I did it for my kids – because I don’t want to get sick from Covid and not be there for them – rather than because it was the Government telling me to do it.

‘‘It was pretty scary. My heart was racing and my hands were sweaty. My husband had to hold my hand to get me through it.’’

But the actual experience turned out to be far less traumatic than she had anticipated, she said.

‘‘It was easy as. I also talked to the guys [at the vaccination clinic] about their own experiences and I heard where they were coming from. That was a big help in my decision to go through with it.’’

By yesterday afternoon, she only had a sore arm as a result of getting vaccinated – as well as a $100 Pak ’n Save voucher.

‘‘That is going to go to my kids . . . I will probably feel a bit rough over the next couple of days but that is OK.

‘‘I know there are a whole lot of people out there who feel exactly the same way I did, who are worried about the what-ifs. I want them to read about me and say: Well, if she can get it done, then anyone can.’’

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2021-10-28T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-10-28T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://fairfaxmedia.pressreader.com/article/281509344397593

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