New Zealand's largest drive-through vaccination centre is set to open on Sunday at Auckland Airport's park and ride site.
The Northern Region Health Coordination Centre (NRHCC) says it will be the first drive-through centre in the metro Auckland region, capable of vaccinating up to 2000 people per day to begin with.
"This will be a great way for a large number of people to be vaccinated safely with their bubble under alert level 4," says NRHCC programme director Matt Hannant.
"It can work particularly well for families as they can come together and get vaccinated in the familiar environment of their own family vehicle."
The drive-through centre will be by appointment only, and invitations will be sent to essential workers and people who were unable to attend their appointments during the move to alert level 4.
"We ask that people who haven't received an invitation yet to stay at home and follow the alert level guidelines," Hannant says.
"It's really important that we can prioritise our essential workers, such as supermarket workers and bus drivers, who are helping to keep important services open during alert level 4."
Key drive-through centre facts
- The site will run from 8:30am to 4:30pm for an initial period of seven days
- The team expects to vaccinate 2000 or more per day over the coming week
- People will be asked to come with their whānau/bubble aged 12 and over in carloads of two to four people. People need to bring at least one other person and won't be able to attend by themselves. Younger children can also attend but they won't be able to be vaccinated
- People will receive their vaccination while seated in the car
- Anyone receiving a vaccination will need to sit by the car door and be vaccinated in the arm that is closest to the door. They will then be asked to drive through to the observation area and a staff member will let them know when they can leave
- If people feel unwell during the observation period, they will be asked to honk their car horn and turn on their hazard lights
- People will need to attend in a car or similar vehicle. The drive-through is not suitable for motorbikes or trucks or people on foot
