August 25, 2021
Pop ups ease test wait
Waiting times for Covid testing in Tāmaki Makaurau are dropping as more sites pop up.
George Ngatai from Manurewa’s Whānau Ora Health Clinic says about 10 more sites have opened over the past few days.
Waits at his four sites in Māngere, Pukekohe, Takanini and Manurewa have dropped from five hours at the start of the lockdown to about one hour.
Vaccinations are also increasing, with 600 a day going through the Takanini vax site, where priority is being given to Māori.
"Every vaccination centre should look at putting extra space aside for Māori. We have around 100 spaces set aside for Māori who want to bring their whānau in and want to just walk in, finding it difficult to register online. That is something we are going to push over the next few months as well," Mr Ngatai says.
He’s seeing an increase in rangatahi from 12 up being brought in with their whānau for vaccination, especially at the Manurewa Marae clinic.
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