COVID-19 vaccination rates have broken through the 90 per cent target in Franklin.
The figure has hit 91 per cent for first vaccinations and 80 per cent for second, but the area’s elected officials are concerned there are communities yet to pass the mark.
Deputy Mayor and Franklin Ward Councillor Bill Cashmore says because of the area’s size, some rural communities found accessing vaccinations more difficult.
“I was delighted to see efforts being made on the Awhitu Peninsula at Matakawau, especially because the community was the driving force behind that.”
Franklin Local Board chair Andy Baker says it’s great to see the target hit.
“There’s no reason we can’t plough on and achieve even higher coverage, and we’re seeing a couple of pockets where the rate is a little behind what we’ve achieved elsewhere.
“Board member Logan Soole has been very active in encouraging people to pop-up centres and the vaccination centre staff in town have been nothing short of magnificent, while local health providers have been reaching deep into the community.
“Pukekohe central, northwest, and Drury central have the lowest rates in our urban areas, while Awhitu is trailing for rural parts, and we’d love to see that improve.”
Baker says Super Saturday had good uptake and provided those who presented for a first dose returned for a second, the fully-vaccinated rate should climb.
“First doses are good across the district. In some areas, such as Clarks Beach, Patumahoe and Beachlands-Maraetai, they are in the mid to high 90 per cent range, which is awesome.
“There’s a strong desire to get vaccinated, and every dose is critical not just because it gets us closer to the target, but because it represents another person who is that bit safer.”
He recognised there were those wavering about vaccination or who though they don’t impact on the situation, but they needed to think about how close the city was to seeing restrictions ease.
“We all want freedom. We can see people and businesses hurting, we know people cut off from loved ones and others in difficult situations, and we can do something about that,” he says.
He urged anyone with concerns to talk to a medical professional or to take a friend or family member with them as support to a pop-up event.
“We said on day one that people weren’t the problem, the virus was, and nothing has changed. It’s wrong to think you can browbeat someone into doing something they don’t want to, but that doesn’t mean you can’t encourage them. We don’t want anyone left behind.”
