300 eligible for first vaccinations in Gisborne starting at weekend

7:56 pm on 26 February 2021

Gisborne border workers and the people they live with will be offered a vaccination against Covid-19 this week, with the first jabs in Tairāwhiti set to take place tomorrow.

A dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is administered.

The first shipment of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccines arrived in Gisborne today. Photo: AFP

Hauora Tairāwhiti chief executive Jim Green said 300 people will be eligible for the vaccination at this stage, and delivery would roll out over the course of the week.

It begins two days earlier than the previously reported date of March 1.

"We are starting on Saturday to make it as easy as possible for border workers and the people they live with to attend their vaccination appointment," Green said.

The first shipment of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccines arrived in Gisborne today.

"We have five days to use the thawed vaccines, so starting as soon as possible makes sense."

Border workers in Tairāwhiti work at the port.

Those eligible to be vaccinated will receive a phone call to organise an appointment for them and their household.

Vaccinators will also be offered the vaccine over the course of the week.

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