The Covid-19 vaccine rollout gets into full swing today in one of the most isolated parts of the country.
The Chatham Islands. Photo: RNZ/ Matthew Theunissen
Three-hundred and 60 Pfizer Covid-19 vaccines were bundled onto a twin-prop A72 plane and flown through Tuesday's sleet and rain to the Chatham Islands, 800 kilometres from the mainland.
Some community leaders received their first dose yesterday so the vaccinators could get a test run, and this morning begins the process of vaccinating the rest of the 560 or so eligible residents.
The Air Chathams plane was greeted by horizontal hail, lashing wind and freezing temperatures.
The cold box containing the vaccines was closely guarded by a New Zealand Post employee - a former cop - who was met on Chatham Island by a local police officer and then transported to the medical centre.
There, the vaccine vials are being monitored 24/7 ahead of the community rollout beginning today.
Six doses were set aside to give medical staff a chance to have a trial run yesterday and the first in line - Glenise Day - is a bit of a legend around town.
Day runs a cafe in the main settlement of Waitangi and is the leader of the island's St John ambulance team.
Glenise Day. Photo: RNZ/ Matthew Theunissen
She got a bit emotional when she thought about the Chatham Islanders who had been unable to attend funerals on the mainland because of the pandemic.
"They didn't die of Covid, they died of other things ... but treated as such. It's tough, tough for everybody that's been in that position."
The local police constable, the fire chief, and a healthcare worker also got the vaccine yesterday, as did the islands mayor, Monique Croon.
"It's something that we have lobbied for since the vaccine was advertised to be available. We wrote a letter to the Ministry of Health, just to keep the Chatham Islands on the radar and how important it was for us as an island and community that we did get the vaccine rollout pretty early given that our share isolation and we've got our Chatham island hospital but not facilities if there was an outbreak here we knew it could be serious for our community."
Because of its isolation, the Chathams was the only place in the country where consent forms were being sourced for the vaccine rollout so authorities knew how many doses to bring in the next batch.
The Chatham Islands Photo: RNZ/ Matthew Theunissen
Croon, who spent her days darting between the council chambers and the hardware store she also ran, said the uptake so far had been positive, but more outreach still needed to be done.
"I'm feeling positive that the uptake will increase overtime. I think once people start talking about it and talking to the nurses that are currently here and people are becoming more informed.
"Most of the feedback I've had from people is that they just want to ask a few more questions and have a bit more knowledge around them. But I understand there's a few that really may not choose to get the vaccine which is disappointing but I know it is personal choice, but I think it is so important because it's our first line of defence against Covid."
The lead vaccinator for the programme, Robyn Preece, said the team was prepped and ready to go.
Fiona Goodwin and Robin Preece. Photo: RNZ/ Matthew Theunissen
But given the Chathams' isolation they needed to take a flexible approach.
"You've also experienced first-hand yesterday the logistics for us, where your plane was delayed and delayed and the weather absolutely playing a huge part in you getting here. The plane the day before was delayed and didn't fly, so had our vaccines been on that plane ... we already have to start have back up plans."
This stage of the Chatham Islands vaccine rollout continues until 16 July with the second phase planned for around September, October.
The vaccinators will also be looking for a rare window of fine weather that will allow them to fly to neighbouring Pitt Island to vaccinate its 40 or so residents.
