A free breakfast was an incentive for some tradies to get their Covid-19 vaccination at a pop up clinic in Nelson.
Coastguard volunteers cook bacon for sandwiches at the tradie vaccination and breakfast event. Photo: RNZ / Samantha Gee
Coffee, muesli and fresh fruit were on offer for people during their 15 minute observation period, but the bacon sandwiches proved the most popular.
Builder Nathan Gibson said he got an email from a trade rep, letting him know he could get a Covid-19 jab and a free breakfast at Mitre10 Mega in Nelson on Wednesday.
It meant he could get his first vaccination while picking up building materials before getting stuck into work.
"I'm at Mitre10 most mornings picking up materials so I thought, 'hey lets do it while I'm here' and to be honest I've been putting it off, which I shouldn't have, but I've got my first one, so it's all good."
The bacon sandwich, cooked by Coastguard volunteers, was beautiful, he said.
"I think this is absolutely brilliant, whoever came up with this idea, they deserve a pat on the back because I know for me personally, being a tradie this works well, come in get your materials, get a jab, get your breakfast - great idea."
Nelson Marlborough Health staff at the bus used for Covid-19 vaccinations at a pop up event. Photo: RNZ / Samantha Gee
Nelson Marlborough Health emergency management principal advisor Pete Kara said the event was held from 7.30am until 10am and around 25 people showed up to receive vaccinations in a bus parked in the Mitre 10 Mega carpark.
"We know our tradies are really busy people so we thought we would bring the vaccination clinic to these guys."
It had been a successful campaign, with more Nelsonians showing up than expected, he said.
"It's more people jabbed and more people protected against Covid so we are really pleased about that."
Coastguard Nelson welfare officer Rosie Furniss said when the organisation heard about the pop up clinic, its volunteers offered to pitch in and cook breakfast, to reciprocate the support Mitre 10 Mega showed the search and rescue organisation.
"It's been quite a good steady flow of people really, we have been through about four kilos of bacon, which is quite a bit."
People were grateful to be able to enjoy a hot breakfast during their 15 minute wait after getting the jab, she said.
"For most people, the intention was to get [a vaccination] sometime and putting it out here in the community like this is such a good way of doing it because people think, 'oh it's here, I'll do it now'."
The health board planned to repeat the pop up vaccination event at other locations in the top of the south.
Fresh fruit and muesli was on offer at the breakfast, but it was not as popular as the bacon sandwiches. Photo: RNZ / Samantha Gee
