Stuff Digital Edition

Cake, flowers as jab hub hits milestone

Stuff reporter

Rotorua’s vaccination effort hit a massive milestone on Thursday, with the 9000th vaccination delivered at the Te Arawa Covid Hub drive-through clinic just after 3pm.

Gemma Connor of Western Heights received the 9000th dose and said she simply feels ‘‘gratitude’’ to everyone in Rotorua who has been vaccinated.

Connor came through the clinic to bring her nephew Karauria to get his first vaccine, and received her booster shot at the same time.

‘‘People getting their vaccination is simply awesome.’’

The 9000 dose milestone was celebrated with cake, flowers for Connor, vouchers from Vax Vegas and a lot of applause.

Since the drive-through rolled open its door for the first time on September 1, hundreds of volunteers and staff from across Rotorua have been involved in some way. The clinic is a partnership between Korowai Aroha, Te Rū nanga o Ngā ti Pikiao, Western Heights Health

Centre, Te Arawa Whanau Ora, Manaaki Ora, Te Roopu Hauora o Te Arawa and Te Arawa Covid Hub, supported by Te Arawa Lakes Trust, Lakes DHB, Rotorua Lakes Council and Civil Defence, Foodstuffs and numerous other groups and organisations.

Te Arawa Covid Hub co-chair Monty Morrison said the entire team is ‘‘simply stoked’’ by what they have been able to achieve in just a few months – and is blown away by the support from the local community and everyone who has come to get their vaccine.

‘‘We stood up this clinic in less than a week during the August level 4 lockdown, and to think that we have supported so many people to get their vaccines since then is humbling and rewarding.

‘‘None of us want to be in this Covid situation, but our community has come together to help each other and make it happen. It’s amazing. And literally thousands of whā nau in our rohe are now protected from the virus.

‘‘9000 doses – that’s a whole lot of vaccine.’’

News

en-nz

2021-12-04T08:00:00.0000000Z

2021-12-04T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://fairfaxmedia.pressreader.com/article/281715502900642

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