Supermarket staff at both New World supermarkets in Wanaka have been given the opportunity to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

A team of nurses from Alexandra came to the Three Parks store on Thursday afternoon (August 26) to vaccinate approximately 150 staff and their family members, including children aged 12 and over.

“It was a huge blessing as many of our team have not had any vaccine to date, due to the age cut off,” store owner Natashia Bartley said.

New World Wanaka staff and family members also had the opportunity to receive vaccinations which Foodstuffs NZ head of corporate affairs Antoinette Laird said was “great”.

Antoinette said Foodstuffs welcomed the Ministry of Health’s introduction of a new category and priority for vaccinations for essential workers. 

“Looking after our people and customers is a top priority for us and we want to do all we can to protect them and each other as we get through this together. Making it quicker and easier for our team members to get a vaccine is the right thing to do and we fully support this opportunity for our essential teams, whether they’re customer facing, in our supply chain, or our security staff and supplier partners.”

Antoinette said Foodstuffs has also recently been given the go ahead from the government to set up vaccination centres for staff. 

“In a survey of 1,000 shoppers nationwide last week, an overwhelming 95 per cent of New Zealanders somewhat or strongly agree that the Ministry of Health made the right decision to fast-track vaccinations for essential workers, including supermarket staff,” she said.

PHOTO: Supplied