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COVID-19 vaccination

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COVID-19 vaccination in Waikato

Our vaccination centres are now also offering the influenza vaccine and the MMR vaccine, as well as the COVID-19 vaccination. The influenza vaccine or Flu vaccine is being offered at our centres for anyone eligible for the free flu vaccine aged 9 and over (please take younger children to your GP), and the MMR vaccine for anyone eligible aged 3 and over (please take younger children to your GP.)

Most vaccination sites are taking walk-ins and people can book an appointment for their COVID-19 vaccination on 0800 28 29 26 (8am to 8pm, 7 days a week) or people can book boosters online at Book My Vaccine(external link).

You can get your vaccination from participating pharmacies, GP practices, at clinics run by community healthcare partners or one of our community and mobile vaccination sites. We want to make it as easy as possible for you and your whānau to protect yourselves.   

Booster dose update

16 and 17 year olds can get a booster - six month gap

Rangatahi aged 16 or 17 can get a COVID-19 booster from any walk-in vaccination site without booking. They can also book their booster through Book My Vaccine.

Rangatahi aged 16 or 17 can get a booster six months after completing their primary course.

If you have had COVID-19, you should wait 3 months after testing positive before getting any COVID-19 vaccination.

18 year olds and older - three month gap

BOOSTER DOSES are available for anyone aged 18 and over, who had their second vaccination three months ago.  
Getting your booster will give you and your whānau greater protection from COVID-19, including Omicron.
 
Most vaccination sites are taking walk-ins and people can book an appointment with the COVID Vaccination Healthline team on 0800 28 29 26 (8am to 8pm, 7 days a week) or people can book boosters online at Book My Vaccine(external link).
 
The Pfizer vaccine is the main vaccine being used in New Zealand for boosters, even if you had a different vaccine for your earlier doses.   

Find out more about booster doses.

Novavax vaccine

Novavax is available to anyone aged 18 years and over, who has not been fully vaccinated and wants a different COVID-19 vaccine option.

Appointments must be booked to receive Novavax by using BookMyVaccine.nz or calling the COVID Vaccination Healthline at 0800 28 29 26

For local bookings and any queries about Novavax you can also contact the Waikato COVID-19 programme

Novavax is available from:

Morrinsville Vaccination Centre
Campbell Hall, Knox Presbyterian Church, 45-49 Canada Street 
Note: Tuesday 17 May 9am – 4pm - Last day of operation

Thames CVC                         
Goldfields Shopping Centre     
100 Mary Road, Thames  
Bookings available on a Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday between 9.00am to 12.00pm

Pharmacy on Meade
Level 1, Meade Clinical Centre, Waikato Hospital
Bookings available on a Thursday between 9.30am and 1.30pm

Novavax is the first protein-based COVID-19 vaccine approved for use in New Zealand. It requires two doses to be considered fully vaccinated. A three-week gap is recommended between the first and second dose. Novavax is not currently available as a booster vaccine. 

A prescription is required for anyone receiving Novavax as a second dose, if their first dose was a COVID-19 vaccine other than Novavax.
For more information about Novavax go to the MOH website here. 

 

COVID-19 vaccination and children

Parents and caregivers in the Waikato have the opportunity to protect their children aged 5 to 11 against COVID-19 with the child version of the Pfizer vaccine. Young people aged 12 to 15 can get vaccinated now.

The COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11 years is a child specific vaccine. It's different to the adult version. It's only one third of the dose. 

In the Waikato there will be a variety of places, including GPs, pharmacies and our Waikato DHB vaccination centres offering the child specific vaccine.  

COVID-19 generally has mild effects in children and is rarely severe or fatal. Children and young people who have COVID-19 will commonly have no symptoms or only mild respiratory symptoms, similar to a cold. However, some can become very sick and require hospitalisation. 

Learn more about the effects of COVID-19

Like adults, if your tamariki or rangatahi are infected with the COVID-19 virus they may transmit the virus to other people. The Ministry of Health recommends vaccinations for children and young people to keep them safe and help protect your whānau and community from COVID-19.

Government confirms COVID-19 vaccinations to protect tamariki

Find out more about COVID-19 vaccination for our tamariki. 

FAQs about 5-11 year vaccinations in the tab above.  

AstraZeneca 

People aged 18 and older can now access the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at a small number of locations in the Waikato. AstraZeneca is for people who can’t have the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for medical reasons and for those who would like an option other than the Pfizer vaccine.

You will need to book in advance for your AstraZeneca vaccination, either on Book My Vaccine or by calling 0800 282 926. AstraZeneca is free and will be available at a limited number of sites across the country as Pfizer is the main COVID-19 vaccine we are using in New Zealand.

An AstraZeneca booster is also available at least 4 months after the second dose and requires a prescription. You can get a prescription at the vaccinating AstraZeneca clinic or prior to your appointment with your preferred GP. Visits to GPs for a prescription for an AstraZeneca booster are free.

Find out more about AstraZeneca.

COVID-19 vaccination - your questions answered

For accurate and reliable information visit: COVID-19 website  

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.

When you arrive at your appointment a healthcare worker will talk you through what is going to happen.

They 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 15 minutes after to check you’re okay 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're second dose of the vaccine will be booked for six weeks later. You get your best protection against COVID-19 after two doses of the vaccine.

Where to go for your vaccination

You can get your vaccination from participating pharmacies, GP practices, at clinics run by community healthcare partners or one of our community and mobile vaccination sites. We want to make it as easy as possible for you and your whānau to protect yourselves.   

Our vaccination centres are now offering the influenza vaccine and the MMR vaccine, as well as the COVID-19 vaccination. The influenza vaccine will be offered for anyone eligible for the free flu vaccine aged 9 and over (please take younger children to your GP), and the MMR vaccine for anyone eligible aged 3 and over (please take younger children to your GP.)

Most vaccination sites are taking walk-ins and people can book an appointment for their COVID-19 vaccination on 0800 28 29 26 (8am to 8pm, 7 days a week) or people can book boosters online at Book My Vaccine(external link).

Our community and mobile vaccination sites are all taking drop-ins. 

Waikato COVID-19 Community Vaccination Centres

These are sites set up by Waikato DHB and our partners. They are open to everyone eligible for the vaccine. Walk-ins are now available at these centres, though there may be a wait. To reserve a slot for a time, date and place that suits, book online at www.BookMyVaccine.nz or phone 0800 28 29 26. Note that the Cambridge Vaccination Centre is now closed.

Clinics marked with ★ are taking 5-11 year olds.

# offering FREE flu vaccinations for those who are eligible

★  # Hamilton Te Awa Vaccination Centre
Te Awa The Base, Level 1, Corner Te Rapa Road & Wairere Drive
9am- 5pm - Monday to Sunday  

★  Raukura Hauora O Tainui COVID-19 Vaccination Centre
New Nawton Shopping Centre, Hyde Avenue, Nawton, Hamilton
Monday to Friday   9am-3pm

Morrinsville Vaccination Centre
Now closed 

★ # Thames Vaccination Centre
Goldfields Shopping Centre, 100 Mary Street
Closed Monday and Sunday
9am - 4.30pm - Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday

Novavax is available at the Thames Vaccination Centre

Te Awamutu Vaccination Centre
Now closed

★ # Tokoroa Whare Rongoā Āraimate Vaccination Centre
203 Leith Place, Tokoroa
9am - 4pm - Tuesday and Friday

# Tokoroa Whare Rongoā Āraimate Vaccination Centre (drive-through)
SWPICS, 1 Maraetai Road
Saturday - 10am - 3pm

GPs, pharmacies and other healthcare providers

You can also get your vaccination from some pharmacies and GP practices and from clinics run by our community healthcare partners. Vaccinations are free everywhere and at many sites now there's no need to book. The Healthpoint website has a list of all the vaccination providers across the region.

Link to BookMyVaccine

When can I book my vaccination?

Bookings are now open for everyone in Aotearoa New Zealand aged 12 and over. You don't need to wait for an invitation. 

Step 1: Be prepared

When you book, it’s a good idea to have your NHI (National Health Index) number handy. You don’t actually need it to book, but it will make the process quicker for you. You’ll find your NHI number on a prescription or prescription receipt, X-ray or test result, or a letter from the hospital.

Step 2: Make your booking

You don't need to wait for an invitation. Go to BookMyVaccine.nz to book your appointments.  If you’re unable to book online, you can ring the COVID Vaccination Healthline on 0800 28 29 26 (8am to 8pm, 7 days) and we’ll make the booking for you and answer any questions. Interpreters are available if you need them. You can book on behalf of other people so whānau can help out less tech-savvy members.

How soon your appointment is will depend on where you have booked. Our community vaccination centres across the Waikato can vaccinate large numbers so it may be quicker to book there than at another, more local site. 

To get as many people fully vaccinated as quickly as possible, the recommended time between first and second dose has dropped to three weeks again. It was increased to six weeks so more people could get their first dose. Now the Delta variant is in New Zealand, and with more community outbreaks, it's important we fully vaccinate more people faster. 

Step 3: Get your vaccination

We’ll send you a reminder the day before each appointment. It’s very important to get two doses of the vaccine – this will give you the best protection.

Other ways to get vaccinated

There are other ways for people to be vaccinated, including workplace vaccinations and vaccination events around the region. We are now running a mobile service and you won't need to book in - just turn up. Check our Mobile and Facebook events pages for places and dates. We'll add both as soon as these are confirmed. 

Many GPs are also providing COVID-19 vaccinations and are taking bookings directly. To find out if your GP is offering this service, visit healthpoint.co.nz/covid-19-vaccination/waikato/ or phone your GP’s office.

Everyone will have the opportunity to protect themselves, their whānau and our communities.

For more information, please visit the Unite Against Covid-19 website or the Karawhiua website.

Videos

Fact sheets

[PDF, 143 KB]

Getting your COVID-19 vaccination
Information about what to expect from your vaccination.
[PDF, 138 KB]

The Pfizer vaccine
How the vaccine works and where to go for more information about its development.

External resources