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COVID-19 vaccination

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COVID-19 vaccination in Waikato

​"Amohia ake te ora o te iwi, ka puta ki te wheiao."
​"To protect the wellbeing of our people is paramount."
Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero Te Tuawhitu

The Ministry of Health is leading the COVID-19 vaccination programme and is working closely with district health boards to carefully plan and deliver the roll-out across New Zealand. 

The vaccine being used is the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine (sometimes also referred to as Comirnaty).

This page will give you updated information, schedules and other relevant information on the programme for rolling out vaccinations to our Waikato border and MIF workers, frontline health workers, older and vulnerable people and then our wider communities.

Please continue to be safe. Being vaccinated does not mean you stop practicing COVID-19 health measures such as staying home if you are sick, washing or sanitising hands, wearing a mask on public transport, covering coughs and sneezes, using the COVID tracer app and Bluetooth, wiping down commonly used surfaces, and getting a test if you have COVID-19 symptoms. 

For clear nationwide information, visit the official COVID-19 website.

The vaccine you are getting is called the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.The vaccine has a great safety record

The Pfizer vaccine is different to most traditional vaccines because it is a ‘messenger RNA’ vaccine (mRNA). These vaccines don’t use virus cells at all – instead they contain a piece of RNA code that teaches your body to recognise the virus. This means your body is ready to respond straight away if you get sick.

We know this vaccine is safe because it has gone through months of clinical testing with more than 40,000 people. Since then, millions of people around the world of all different ages, gender and ethnicities have received the vaccine with great results. From these studies, we know that the vaccine has a good safety record.

Months of clinical testing

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine will not give you COVID-19. There is no possibility it could affect your DNA/genes. The chance of you having a severe allergic reaction is very rare, but if you do our vaccinators have been trained to respond immediately and know exactly what to do.

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is currently the only vaccine approved for use in New Zealand. It was given MedSafe approval on 10 February for people 16 years or older. Two doses are needed, with at least 21 days between each dose. It's very important to get the second dose to provide the best protection against catching the virus.

Over time, everyone in Aotearoa New Zealand who is 16 years and older will have access to a vaccine. The aim is to protect as many people as possible during the coming year so that the population immunity becomes effective.

The lists below show the order in which people will receive the vaccine to ensure the right people are vaccinated at the right time.

The dates for Waikato may change depending on progress - we will regularly update this information.

Group 1 (February - March 2021)
Border and Managed Isolation and Quarantine (MIQ) workers, and their household contacts
Group 2 (February - May 2021)
Frontline healthcare workforces who are most likely to contract and/or spread COVID-19 through their interaction with patients
Any person who usually lives in a long-term residential care where residents are at risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19
All people working in long-term residential environments where people are at risk of getting very sick or dying from COVID-19
Any person aged 65+ or has a relevant underlying health condition or disability living in the Counties Manukau DHB area
Group 3 (May 2021 onward)
People in New Zealand aged 65+, people with relevant underlying health conditions, and disabled people
Adults in custodial settings
Group 4 (second half of 2021)
The remainder of the population over 16-years-old

When it is your turn for a vaccination, we will let you know and tell you how to make an appointment.

Talk to a health professional first if you:

  • are pregnant or breastfeeding
  • are receiving cancer treatment
  • have any other medical conditions or are taking other medicines.

If you have symptoms of COVID-19, get a test and stay at home until you get your results. You can be vaccinated once you have a negative test.

A healthcare worker will do a health check with you and give you some information.
You will have time to ask any questions.

Let your vaccinator know if you:

  • have had a severe or immediate allergic reaction to any vaccine or injection in the past
  • are taking blood-thinning medication
  • have a bleeding disorder.

When you are happy, you will be asked to sign the consent form. You will only be vaccinated if you agree. Then the healthcare worker will inject the vaccine into your arm. You’ll need to stay for 30 minutes after to check you’re ok and they may ask you about side effects.

Once the healthcare worker says you’re fine, you can leave and carry on with your day.

You will be asked to get your second dose of the vaccine 3 weeks later. You get your best protection against COVID-19 after 2 doses of the vaccine.

As with any vaccine, you may experience side effects. It’s important to know that this does not mean that you have COVID-19. What this means is that your body is building up your protection to COVID-19.

If you are unsure about your symptoms or they get worse, talk to your family doctor or call Healthline 0800 358 5453.

What you may feel What can help When could this start
Pain at the injection site, headache and fatigue are the most commonly reported reactions. Place a cold, wet cloth or ice pack where the injection was given.
Leave it on for a short time.
Do not rub or massage the injection site.		 Within 6-24 hours.
Muscle aches, feeling generally unwell, chills, fever, joint pain and nausea may also occur (although this is mostly after the second dose).These symptoms may not be related to the vaccine and could be signs of an unrelated illness.
Seek medical advice if you are concerned.		 Rest and drink plenty of fluids.
Paracetamol or ibuprofen can be taken, follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Seek advice from your health professional if your symptoms get worse.		 Within 6-48 hours.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Everyone will receive their vaccinations for free.

The vaccine is safe. The Pfizer vaccine has gone through months of rigorous clinical and scientific testing and assessments. The level of global collaboration in vaccine development has improved the speed of its development. The process is moving quickly but is not taking any short cuts or compromising safety.

Millions of people around the world of all different ages, gender and ethnicities have already received the vaccine with great results.

Everyone in Aotearoa New Zealand can be vaccinated if they are 16 years and older. However, with each phase of the vaccine rollout, certain groups will receive the vaccination at different times.

If you have serious health conditions, please check with your family doctor first. 

See our COVID-19 vaccination page for more details of the rollout schedule and updates for Waikato.

Yes. However, if you currently have serious health issues from COVID-19, you may not be well enough to receive the vaccine. If you’re unsure, please check with your family doctor.

People under the age of 16 are not included for now. There’s limited data for this age group as they weren’t part of the clinical trials.

It is very important that older people and those with underlying health conditions get vaccinated because they are more at risk of the harmful effects of COVID-19 than other groups.

Most people who are immunocompromised, have cancer or other chronic illnesses, can be vaccinated.

A very small group of people cannot be vaccinated, but your health conditions and medications will be reviewed before you receive your vaccine.

No. There is no virus been injected into your body; you cannot get COVID-19 from the vaccine. The vaccine boosts immune memory by strengthening it.

Yes. Studies show that the Pfizer vaccine is currently 90 to 95 percent effective in those who get it. Evidence has shown that the Pfizer vaccine gives you protection against the UK and South African variant strains. If there is a new variant found, this type of vaccine can be changed quickly to match a new variant strain.

It’s advised that if you are wanting to get the MMR vaccination before your Pfizer vaccination or after your second dose, that you allow 4 weeks.

For the flu vaccination, it’s 2 weeks.

If you wish to receive any other vaccinations after receiving your Pfizer vaccination, you will need to do so 2 weeks after your second dose. Please check with your family doctor or other health professional before any vaccination.

Yes. You’re fine to attend any large events dependent on national COVID-19 alert levels.

The vaccine is safe for women who are breast feeding. There have been no safety concerns identified in the clinical trials for women who are breast feeding who have received the vaccine.

Because this is not a live vaccine, we don’t expect there will be any problems getting a vaccination if you are pregnant. There’s no clinical data for pregnant women as they weren’t part of the clinical trials.

Our advice is that pregnant women at high risk of catching COVID-19 (e.g. border workers or if there is widespread transmission in the community) should get advice from a health professional (e.g. family doctor or midwife) about the risks and benefits of COVID-19 vaccination.

However, in women at lower risk of COVID-19, we advise waiting until after the baby is born to get vaccinated.