More than 8000 still unvaccinated in SC

More than 8000 South Canterbury people eligible for a Covid vaccine remain unvaccinated.

In the week ending October 25, 3504 vaccines were delivered, South Canterbury District Health Board chief executive Jason Power said. Of those, 887 were first doses.

If those yet to get their vaccine continue to turn out at in similar numbers, it will take more than nine weeks to get everyone eligible vaccinated with at least one dose.

Given there is a minimum three-week stand down between doses, it would take until midJanuary to get everyone through a second dose.

But the Government has set a benchmark of 90 per cent vaccination before the South Island can move to a new traffic light system for controlling restrictions, which will be easier to achieve.

To meet the benchmark, South Canterbury needs to fully vaccinate 47,326 people. Of those, 3033 are yet to receive a single dose and there are still 10,384 second doses to be administered. Based on those numbers and last week’s uptake, it would take another 31⁄2 weeks to complete the first doses.

Those people will then have to wait at least three weeks for a second dose, pushing the 90 per cent goal well into December.

Power thanked those who had helped get the DHB to 84 per cent single dosed and 70 per cent fully vaccinated.

‘‘A big shout-out to all those who were hesitant, but went out and got their vaccine last week.’’

Power said the SCDHB was ‘‘extremely proud’’ with the vaccination uptake to date, but urged those yet to line up to do so now.

‘‘Now is a great time to have a chat with friends and whānau, help answer any of their questions they might have, and encourage them to go out and get their vaccine today.

‘‘It’s never been more urgent. Summer is only six weeks away. Get your first dose now to get two doses before summer starts, to be able to take advantage of everything a Kiwi summer offers.’’

The SCDHB area has 52,584 people eligible to receive the vaccine. Of those, 44,293 had received their first dose and 36,942 have had a second.