The impact of Omicron has forced the closure of two Christchurch vaccination sites

Canterbury DHB’s Emergency Coordination Centre Incident Controller, Dr Helen Skinner said “we need to maximise limited staffing resources and focus our resource on reaching priority areas and at-risk populations where booster uptake and children immunisation is lagging behind.”

 Planning for mobile or outreach vaccination events over the next three to four weeks has started.  

 Two DHB-run vaccination sites will close: Christchurch Arena Drive-Through from tomorrow, 15 March, and Orchard Road Vaccination Centre which will likely close in three weeks.

 “The few people booked at the drive through have been rebooked. For Orchard Road, over the next few weeks we will only be vaccinating those already booked or supporting them to re-book at other vaccination sites.”

“We are also looking at establishing a smaller drive through vaccination site and our mobile vaccination events will consider outdoor locations as a priority to ensure we have good ventilation, especially in the current environment where Omicron is widespread.” 

 The existing RAT collection site at the Christchurch Arena will continue to operate.