School's out for the day and boosters are in for those aged 16 and 17 - from Thursday, 36,000 more Kiwis can get their third jab.
"When we heard about it we got really excited because we've been waiting quite a while," one student said.
"It's really important for most of us kids here," another said.
"I think it's awesome, I'm really excited for it," said a third.
So is Taita College principal Karen Morgan, who said: "It's fantastic, just to add another layer of protection to our students and community is brilliant".
It's taken New Zealand longer than other countries to approve boosters for these teens, but the Government says it was waiting for MedSafe approval.
"That process takes time, they have a very high evidential threshold," COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said.
It's a process that's unlikely to include under 16s anytime soon.
"The advice from our technical advisory group was also very clear, they felt 16 and 17-year-olds the evidence supported, but not routinely offering it to 12 to 15-year-olds," Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said.
The wait time for these teens to receive their third jab has doubled to six months.
"It's because they have a vigorous response to the primary course. A longer gap is really good to give you longer duration of protection," Immunisation Advisory Centre Medical Director Dr Nikki Turner said.
But she's concerned it could take the pressure off boosting the most vulnerable.
"It's great news to broaden boosters to younger people, but I am worried we lose the focus on those at highest risk," Dr Turner said.
Nearly 73 percent of Kiwis are boosted, but for Māori it's just 57.5 percent and Pasifika are only at 59 percent.
"I am concerned our booster rates have plateaued at around that 73 to 74 percent marker," Hipkins said.
A plateau Taita College doesn't expect to see in its students it vaccinated on site last year, and is rolling up its sleeves to do it again.
"After the announcement was made we've already booked in another time to have a vaccination booster session here at school to support our students," Morgan said.
Boosters that won't require parental consent.
"No, once they are over 16 they don't," Morgan said.
Hoping to get as many tamariki fully protected as possible.
