Gisborne drive-through event makes immunisation more accessible

Cassandra Sheridan, a registered Tamariki Ora nurse with Tūranga Health, stands on the steps of Piki te Ora, the mobile camper bringing immunisation services directly to whānau in Tairāwhiti.

A collaboration involving healthcare providers in Tairāwhiti helped tackle below-average immunisation rates for the region’s children by making immunisation more accessible.

Before Christmas, 16 Gisborne pēpī and tamariki received National Immunisation Schedule vaccinations from the comfort of their cars during a two-hour drive-through immunisation event on Childers Rd near Matai Medical Research Institute.

Cars became vaccination stations, complete with vaccinating fairies, smiling faces, sausages, ice cream, and goody bags to keep tamariki entertained.

The event was led by Tūranga Health, collaborating with Pinnacle Midlands Health Network’s Tairāwhiti team, The Doctors Te Whare Hapara, De Latour Medical, and City Medical Centre.

Pinnacle’s Tairāwhiti district manager Tracy Fergus said the event was successful, reaching 16 tamariki who might have otherwise missed their vaccinations.

“This included two pēpī receiving their first vaccinations and several 4-year-olds [being] immunised against meningococcal B. Events like this make it easier to ensure more tamariki are protected and help reduce the strain on outreach services,” Fergus said.

Pinnacle provided Tūranga Health with a list of tamariki due or overdue for immunisations, then Tūranga Health kaimahi pre-booked families into 15-minute slots.

On the day, Pinnacle’s nurse practitioner ensured every child received the correct vaccinations using an on-site patient management system, while nurses from the general practices worked alongside Tūranga Health to vaccinate the tamariki.

Bobbie Cameron, primary care kaiwhakahaere at Tūranga Health, said the simplicity of the drive-through model is key to its success.

“Manaaki is an important part of what we do at Tūranga Health. We want every whānau we engage with to have a positive experience. Staying in their cars kept whānau at ease, making it a convenient way to ensure tamariki are immunised and protected,” Cameron said.

“The mobile drive-through approach brings services closer to home. Timely vaccination is essential to stopping the spread of diseases like measles and whooping cough. By delivering services in our communities, we’re making it easier for whānau to protect their tamariki. We’ll continue using this blueprint.”

With whooping cough declared a national epidemic on November 22 and the epidemic still ongoing, Pinnacle chief executive Justin Butcher emphasised the importance of events like this in addressing vaccination challenges.

“Community-based initiatives like the Gisborne drive-through play a vital role in protecting tamariki through timely vaccinations,” Butcher said.

According to Butcher, Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora’s end-of-year data shows Pinnacle Tairāwhiti’s rates for fully immunised children were about 70% for both the eight-month and two-year milestones, about 10% below the national average and significantly lower than the Government’s 95% target.

“Community-based vaccination events are part of a broader strategy to boost immunisation rates across the region,” he said.

“With ongoing support and collaboration, these initiatives are making healthcare more accessible. We recognise the challenges, but it’s encouraging to see how efforts like this can make a real difference.”