The Southern District Health Board (SDHB) has advised there is a delay in the opening of the Roxburgh and Ranfurly COVID-19 vaccination clinics.

“We regret to advise the planned COVID-19 vaccination clinics in Roxburgh and Ranfurly are being delayed due to national vaccine supply limitations,” a SDHB statement says. 

As announced by the Ministry of Health on Friday, stocks of the COVID-19 vaccine will be tight across the country for the next five weeks and will have to be carefully managed to maintain the programme until the 1 million Pfizer doses land in July.

“Whilst there is sufficient supply of the Pfizer vaccine for district health boards to honour existing bookings during this period, the Southern district vaccine programme has had to pause the opening of some new clinics and cap or even reduce the capacity of existing clinics across the district. 

“The COVID-19 vaccination clinics due to open in Roxburgh and Ranfurly next week will now open in late-July.”

Southern DHB Covid-19 Vaccine Rollout Incident Controller Hamish Brown says there is enough vaccines and vulnerable groups will be vaccinated as planned. 

“Over the next five weeks it is important for us to maintain vaccinations for our most vulnerable groups and to ensure regional equity of the supply across our district,” Hamish says.

“These measures are being echoed across the country as we all prepare to ramp up delivery later in July. We will be opening the new clinics as planned as soon as we are in a position to do so.”

Hamish has extended his thanks to the community for their patience over these few weeks.

“It is important to remember that there will be enough vaccine for everyone over the age of 16 to receive two doses by the end of this year and everyone will be given the opportunity to be vaccinated.”

“We are in a fortunate situation that there is no COVID in our communities,” a SDHB statement says. 

“So while we are wanting to progress the rollout programme as quickly as possible, our community is not at risk while we manage the availability of vaccine.”