Source: Waikato District Health Board
Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand Waikato is scaling down some COVID-19 operations and the last remaining fixed COVID-19 community vaccination and testing centre in Hamilton will close on Tuesday 1 November. This ends a 2.5 year long service with the first community testing centre set-up in March 2020 at the Claudelands Event Centre. In October 2020 the testing site moved to Founders Theatre and then in January 2022 to the Greenwood Street site where it also became a vaccination centre providing COVID-19 and Flu vaccines.
Photo L-R COVID-19 Directorate service delivery managers Saffron Paekau and Vicki Phelwasher at the Greenwood Site
The Greenwood COVID-19 Testing Centre operated seven days a week, and at the height of the pandemic ensured continued testing capacity in Hamilton and the surrounding areas.
Over that time, in Greenwood Street staff distributed 95,880 rapid antigen tests (RATs) and administered 465 COVID-19 vaccinations.
Te Whatu Ora Waikato COVID-19 Directorate Executive Lead Maree Munro says as coronavirus cases have fallen we are able to scale down our operations and move to a different stage to manage COVID-19.
“COVID-19 testing and vaccination will continue to be supported through health care providers, pharmacies and community sites. Healthpoint has up to date information of where you can access testing
“There are still the smaller designated community COVID-19 RAT collection centres and mobile vaccination clinics offering a range of vaccination services to the Waikato community,” said Ms Munro.
“When COVID-19 first touched our shores, we were given a tongikura from Kiingi Tuuheitia that to protect the wellbeing of our people is paramount. This has been woven throughout our entire COVID-19 response and has driven our Care in the Community, testing and vaccination programmes.”
Ms Munro said COVID-19 has enabled strong working relationships and capacity to be built with iwi, kaupapa Māori and Pacific providers across the rohe which supported a flexible response model working with local communities and existing primary care providers.
“As we moved through the COVID-19 alert levels we were able to step-up or scale down our testing sites quickly. We were also able to apply the same approach to our vaccination programme when setting up vaccination centres and clinics.”
COVID-19 is still in our community, and we continue to keep a watchful eye on positive case numbers as we have recently seen an increase in local cases reported and hospitalisations occur. We still need to remain vigilant and if you have flu-like or COVID-19 symptoms, it is still important to take a test as you may have COVID-19. For information visit Unite Against COVID-19
Find out where to get a test in the Waikato: www.waikatodhb.health.nz/cbac or www.healthpoint.co.nz/covid-19/waikato or check the pinned post on our Waikato DHB Facebook page.
You can also walk in and get your vaccination at GPs and pharmacies throughout your area. To find a walk-in today or book go to Bookmyvaccine
See our mobile vaccination page www.waikatodhb.health.nz/covid19mobile
