The 90% Project is an NZ Herald initiative that aims to reach all New Zealanders to get the word out about vaccination so we can save lives and restore freedoms. Video / NZ Herald
More than half of Rotorua teenagers have had their first Pfizer vaccine.
As of October 4, 51 per cent of 12 to 19-year-olds in the Lakes District Health Board area had received their first dose.
The figure was similar to the neighbouring Bay of Plenty District Health Board, which had vaccinated 47.8 per cent of eligible teenagers by September 30.
While the rates were lower than national rates, Lakes District Health Board chief operating officer Alan Wilson said it was "really positive" to see younger people were quick to take action and get vaccinated.
According to Ministry of Health figures, 67 per cent of teenagers nationwide had received their first dose as of 11.59pm on October 4. Nineteen per cent were fully vaccinated.
"[Uptake] to date has been encouraging since the age band opened," Wilson said.
"We are experiencing a slightly higher uptake, operationally at the moment due to school holidays and [the] recent outbreak in Waikato/Raglan."
Lakes DHB chief operating officer Alan Wilson. Photo / Andrew Warner
Teenagers have only been able to receive their vaccine from September 1 under the Government's staggered age-group approach.
Those aged 30 to 40 became eligible on August 25, while those aged 40 to 50 could be vaccinated from August 18, and 50 to 55-year-olds from August 13.
Director general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield last week praised New Zealand teenagers for their efforts. "Despite them being the last group to be able to access the vaccine, more than 60 per cent of this group have already had one dose," he said.
"Uptake in this group, our 12 to 19s, has been faster than in any other group ... Thank you for your leadership and the example you are setting for all of us."
Despite the fast uptake, the age group is still slightly behind other age groups.
Seventy per cent of 20 to 34-year-olds have had their first dose and 31 per cent are fully vaccinated. In the 35 to 49 age bracket, 79 per cent have had one dose while 41 per cent have had two.
In the 50 to 64 range, 86 per cent have had one dose and 63 per cent are fully vaccinated, while 93 per cent of the 65-plus age bracket have had one dose and 84 per cent are fully vaccinated.
Director general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Ministry of Health Covid-19 vaccination operations group manager Astrid Koorneef said health officials were "very encouraged" by the uptake among teenagers.
"These young people are demonstrating great leadership and should be commended for taking such a responsible and mature approach to getting vaccinated," she said.
"They are playing a critical role in helping us achieve our 90 per cent target rate and the personal decisions they are making to get vaccinated are protecting all of Aotearoa New Zealand.
"We know that getting vaccinated is the best way to protect ourselves and those around us. The more of us who are vaccinated in our community, the greater our immunity."
Under New Zealand law, children aged under 16 may give or withhold consent to healthcare treatment as long as they are competent to do so.
Koorneef said it was the role of a healthcare professional to decide whether a child was competent.
University of Otago department of public health senior research fellow Dr Amanda Kvalsvig previously said New Zealand benefited from assessing vaccine trials in children aged 12 to 15 across the world.
"In the United States alone, just under 7 million children in this age group have had at least one vaccine dose, along with a further 4 million 16 to 17 year-olds," she said.
University of Otago department of public health senior research fellow Dr Amanda Kvalsvig. Photo / Supplied
"With that amount of experience to draw on, the evidence for this age group is very clear: getting vaccinated is a much safer choice than getting ill with the infection.
"We've seen Covid-19 outbreaks in schools before now, so it's great to know that children will be protected in the future."
