Next stop for the COVID-19 Shot Cuzz vaccination bus is Manurewa’s James Cook High School.
The drop-in event, where anyone can receive a vaccination, runs on Monday and Tuesday from 9am to 4pm.
Hot on the heels of a stop at Papakura High School, Manurewa-Papakura Auckland Councillor Daniel Newman says community leaders have again stepped up to make it easy for students, their whanau and the public to be vaccinated.
“This is rapidly becoming a pandemic of the unvaccinated,” he says. “More than three-quarters of the cases identified in this Delta outbreak have been among the unvaccinated.
“As of a few days ago, 90 unvaccinated people and just one who was fully vaccinated had been hospitalised.
“If anyone is hesitant about the need to get protected, those numbers are telling. There is no safe alternative to vaccination and there is no prospect of a return to free movement if we fall short of a high vaccination rate in every part of our community.”
James Cook High principal Grant McMillan says he’s proud to be part of a community that has come together so well to make something happen.
“We are only the venue but Manurewa MP Arena Williams, Cr Newman, the great Manurewa Marae team, including local board member Rangi McLean, have all been amazing.
“Our students have stood up as young leaders to be involved and we have been able to call on the generosity of the business community, and New World Southmall in particular, for kai and other incentives we hope will encourage more people to come.”
Manurewa Marae got a great response when it took Shot Cuzz to Papakura, and Newman is confident it will be the same at James Cook High.
“Vaccinating is tested and proven. We need everyone to protect themselves, the people around us who can’t get vaccinated, and our under 12s.”
Manurewa Marae has continued as a vaccination centre while also operating Shot Cuzz at Clendon, Manurewa and Clover Park, while stand-up events at the Manurewa Netball and Vodafone Events centres have featured alongside work at doctors and pharmacies.
“We’ll continue to explore ways to support communities in collaboration with our high school and its students, church leaders, sports clubs and other groups to get people over the line.
