Vaccination challenge for east Christchurch as just 16 go to school clinic

The Team Reporter from The Press

East Christchurch has some of the country’s lowest Covid-19 vaccination rates, but despite a push to increase uptake that involved a possible cash prize just 16 people turned up to a community vaccination clinic on Wednesday.


Wainoni is among the bottom 10 suburbs for the vaccine uptake, with 70.2 per cent of the population having had a single dose. Neighbouring Aranui is the least vaccinated suburb in Canterbury and among the lowest in New Zealand, with 59.7 per cent of its residents having received a first dose.

But just 16 people turned out for a vaccination event at Haeata Community Campus on Wednesday – albeit a day blighted by torrential rain and blustery winds.

Principal Peggy Burrows​ said she was pleased to open the school for Covid-19 vaccinations after being approached by the Canterbury health board about two and a half weeks ago.

“My stance is it has to be a choice. You can’t compel people to, but I’m certainly vaccinated myself and so is my family, and we just provide opportunities because that is what education is about," she says. Continue reading here.