Maija Vance completed her vaccination round. Photo: Ricky Lam.
As hundreds of people took advantage of Super Saturday to get their first or second jab, Wintec journalism student Ricky Lam starting his internship at The News by visiting the Unichem Family Pharmacy Cambridge centre with his notebook and camera while senior writer Mary Anne Gill popped into the Cambridge Community Marae .
Maija Vance had her second dose of vaccination today – and said she would back stricter rules about having the jab.
“I think they need to make it that we can’t go to the restaurant or go places unless you get vaccinated, and I think that will help to get people to vaccinate,” the Cambridge horsewoman said.
Vance has been recovering from a serious spinal injury suffered in a race day fall in September 2018.
The former jockey was in the news in April last year after climbing Mt Maunganui to raise money for the CatWalk Trust.
Without some rules around vaccinations, she feared the country would get to the 90 per cent target the Government has set.
Entertainer musician Scotty Stone at the pharmacy
Super Saturday arrived with Waipa District the 16th most fully vaccinated district in the country.
A total of 84.35 per cent of eligible people had had their first dose and 62.66 per cent their second.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern set a 100,000 vaccinations target for the first day of Vaxathon, and Waipā residents responded.
In Cambridge they headed to the Unichem Family Health Pharmacy vaccination centre on Cambridge Road for their Pfizer dose.
Alicia Scott had her second vaccination. Photo: Ricky Lam.
Cambridge resident Alicia Scott arrived and completed her second dose at the vaccination centre.
She said she was having the vaccine as protection for herself and her family from Covid infection.
She fears Covid will remain in the community.
“I feel like, probably, it has become a thing that we have to live with, and we will be having Covid just like you get flu or a cold.”
But with a vaccination, those infected would not suffer symptoms which would require being sent to hospital.
“We’ve got to live with Covid, that is the unfortunate thing, but we can make it less deadly and lesser a health problem.”
There were plenty of incentives to get vaccinated as centres put on entertainment and had coffee trucks operating.
On the coffee truck Courtney Potter and Serrena Ryder of Gourmet Delicious believed the coffee wasn’t the game breaker.
Courtney Potter and Serrena Ryder (right) offered free coffee to the vaccinated. Photo: Ricky Lam.
“There are a lot of people coming in, they are not coming for the free coffee, they have come just to get vaccinated and get on board with it.” Serrena said.
“People are encouraged by the fact we will be normal, going back to level 2… that’s why they are doing it.”
Meanwhile, at 8pm the 130,000th jab was administered.
Members of the Rowing NZ elite development squad and the Tokyo team were keen to help with Super Saturday, so they quickly rallied the troops.
The team really added to the energy and put lots of smiles of people’s faces at Cambridge Marae as they gave out the goodie bags and Michael Brake and Beth Ross even brought their recently won Olympic medals for people to see.
Hurewana Tupaea, left, and Glenda Jerry, second right, with the NZ rowing team at Cambridge Community Marae. Rowing NZ team pictured: Kate Haines, Kathryn Glen, Kate Lush. Beth Ross, Michael Brake and Cat Layburn
Waikato DHB chief executive Kevin Snee with Taupo MP Louise Upston at the Cambridge Community Marae.
Elliot Kirky, 11, with gold and silver medals won by the NZ Rowing team at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Pictured at the Cambridge Community Marae
Family affair: Daniel Hughes, 12, celebrating getting his second vaccination at Cambridge Community Marae with his as yet unnamed 2-week old sister, brothers Anton, 1, and Levi, 7 and mother Rosie.
Hurewana Tupaea at Cambridge Community Marae
Entertainer musician Scotty Stone at the pharmacy
Medal winners: l-r Mariana Te Koi, Michael Brake gold, men’s eight), Hurewana Tupaea, Ngakutaumata Tarawhiti and Beth Ross (silver, women’s eight) at Cambridge Community Marae.
