Braden Fastier/Stuff
Port Nelson marine pilots Dean Hardman, left, and Shaun Chase were some of the first in the region to receive the Covid-19 vaccine.
Marine pilots Shaun Chase and Dean Hardman were among the first people in the region to get a Covid-19 vaccine as frontline port workers lined up for their shots. A ship’s captain who had experienced the h4n4 bird flu and Zika virus during his time at sea, Chase said he appreciated the need for the vaccine, given the proximity to international ships that border workers operated under. “It’s probably not so much safer for us but certainly for others around us – there s that pressure on ourselves that when you’re sick, you’re sick, but exposing other people to it who’ll go then home to their families, that’s always been a big concern.”
“I just got to the point where I thought I don’t have an excuse,” Stocker said. He said his only remaining apprehensions about vaccination were the possible judgement from medical staff and the cost. In 2017, he rolled up his sleeve for a series of vaccines which were free and the nurses “didn t make an issue of it”, he said. “Those apprehensions were very unfounded and that was the last barrier to get through.” Growing up, Stocker said his mum “didn t like the overmedicalisation of everything” and felt her children’s immune systems were healthy enough. During university, he said a flatmate told it to him straight about immunisation.
“Our frontline port workers, such as pilots and stevedores, can potentially come into direct contact with crew on international vessels. “This makes them some of the most vulnerable members of our community in terms of their exposure to the virus.”
Braden Fastier/Stuff
Nelson Marlborough Health chief medical officer Dr Nick Baker says the vaccination of port workers is a “significant milestone” in New Zealand’s fight against Covid-19. About 400 workers from the Nelson/Tasman region and 1000 people they lived with would be offered the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. In Marlborough, about 100 workers and 300 people they lived with would be offered the vaccine.
News from Nelson Marlborough Health
Front-line Port Nelson and Port Marlborough workers will be the first in our region to receive COVID-19 vaccine, starting on 1 March and 3 March respectively. The people they live with will also be vaccinated and, with the two doses required for all parties.
Front-line Port Nelson and Port Marlborough workers will be the first in our region to receive COVID-19 vaccine, starting on 1 March and 3 March respectively.
The people they live with will also be vaccinated and, with the two doses required for all parties and three weeks required in between doses, the complete programme will take several weeks.
Press Release – Nelson Marlborough Health
Front-line Port Nelson and Port Marlborough workers will be the first in our region to receive COVID-19 vaccine, starting on 1 March and 3 March respectively.
The people they live with will also be vaccinated and, with the two doses required for all parties and three weeks required in between doses, the complete programme will take several weeks.
Dr Nick Baker, Nelson Marlborough Health Chief Medical Officer, describes the event as a significant milestone in New Zealand’s fight against COVID-19.
“This is the first phase of New Zealand’s largest-ever immunisation programme, and the much-anticipated next crucial phase in our fight against COVID-19.