Successful flu vax at Ūkaipō
By: Ricky Carr, Pūkenga Kaiwhakahaere - Wairau (Site Manager - Blenheim)
Tuesday, the 12th day of May dawned, and there were several people gathered at Ukaipo (Grovetown, Marlborough) from 8.00 am onward. Rangitane staff had been preparing the Ukaipo site in the preceding days for what was to become the most successful flu vax site that Te Piki Oranga has been associated with this season.
The venue owned and operated by Rangitane is situated in Grovetown between Spring Creek and Blenheim. Event's organiser Donna Grace had been in touch with Rangitane iwi regarding this vaccine clinic, there had been one hundred and five responses to the initial invitation, and as usual, we had begged & borrowed vaccines to ensure we had sufficient stock on hand to ensure no one was turned away.
The clinic was planned to commence at 10:00 am till 2:00 pm; however, we were in the middle of our karakia at 9:30 am when the first of 150 participants started arriving.
Marlborough PHO staff; Glenis McAlpine, Ange Mills, Christine Andrews and Victoria Leo were swabbing and delivering the vaccines. Te Piki Oranga staff; Mary Johnsen, Brenda Chilvers and Viv Tuhimata - Weke were supporting with logistics and administration. The Rangitane team were headed by; Nick Chin (CEO) Taylor MacDonald, Allan MacDonald, Kereana Norton and Elsie Elkington.
At about 2.00 pm, staff were thankful that there was a lull in the car park traffic, which enabled those assembled to have a hearty lunch kindly organised by Rangitane staff.
There have been several positive comments about the organisation of this clinic and how effective this made the whole process. Our thanks to both, Rangitane, MPHO and Te Piki Oranga staff for such a marvellous outcome.
While this was the largest of the clinics held during the lockdown, two further clinics were held in April at Waikawa Marae and in the Health hub carpark in central Blenheim. Overall, there were more than 300 vaccines delivered through these mobile clinic initiatives.
