17 Aug 2021

Why are port workers' vaccination rates falling short?

From Nine To Noon, 9:36 am on 17 August 2021

A deadline is looming for border workers to get vaccinated - as mandated by the government.

Government border employees, including at airports and ports,  have until August 26th to get their first dose, and those in the private sector have til September 30th.

But the most recent figures released to Nine to Noon from the Health Ministry show just 32 per cent of port workers still haven't received a dose at all - or it couldn't be matched to their immunisation record.

The Port of Tauranga had a near-miss last week after nearly 100 port workers had contact with the infected ship Rio de la Plata.  None tested positive for the virus.

Why is it apparently so hard to get port workers vaccinated?

Susie speaks with Tauranga Port CEO, Leonard Sampson and Charles Finny, independent chair of the Port Company CEO Group.  

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Photo: 123RF, Port of Tauranga