Wānaka town centre has the highest vaccine penetration rate in the Upper Clutha in data revealed by the Ministry of Health (MOH).

The MOH released suburb by suburb data for vaccine uptake rates across the country which shows that 46 per cent of those eligible (12+ years old) for the Covid-19 vaccine in the Upper Clutha are fully vaccinated and 84 per cent have had one dose.

Across Otago 55 per cent of the eligible population is fully vaccinated with 81 per cent having had one dose.

Locally Wānaka town leads the way with 87 per cent of the eligible population having had one dose and 49 per cent fully vaccinated. Within Wānaka, Central Wanaka had the highest vaccination rate with 90 per cent having one dose and 55 per cent fully vaccinated.

Hāwea has the lowest fully vaccinated population at 40 percent, with 77 per cent having had one dose.

Speaking at the daily Covid briefing yesterday (Thursday October 7), Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said he hoped the data would be used by community groups to help target the vaccination to harder-to-reach groups.

Queenstown Central has one of the highest vaccination rates in the country with more than 95 per cent having had one dose. The small North Island settlement of Murapara had the lowest vaccination rate with just 33 per cent having had one dose of the Pfizer vaccine.

PHOTO: Wānaka App