As COVID-19 is now widespread throughout New Zealand and we also have local cases, the following has been put in place to ensure patient safety and enable us to maintain health services throughout the pandemic. 

COVID-19

Most people who get omicron will have minor cold and flu-like symptoms.  Some people may become more unwell.  Your healthcare team will care for you if you have a positive result following a COVID-19 PCR test or RAT test.  If your symptoms are mild you will be able to isolate and look after yourself at home.  Support is available if you need it to pick up groceries or prescriptions from the pharmacy.  The Kaikoura District Council is providing this service. Contact them on 03 319 5026, press 9 if you need assistance or you can email welfare@kaikoura.govt.nz.

If you have minor symptoms you will be contacted at the beginning of your isolation and again at the end.  You will be provided with contact details for our team so that if at any time your symptoms become more serious you can contact us.

If you have more serious symptoms or are high risk for any reason you will be monitored by our team regularly. 

All patients who test positive will receive a care package which includes information on how to look after yourself.

As of Monday 28 February, the following processes will apply at Kaikoura Health:

Consults

All consults will be via video link or telephone unless your doctor or nurse needs to see you face to face.  Reception may ask you questions about what you need to be seen for so they can let the doctor or nurse know.  The doctor or nurse will decide if you need to be seen face to face and will let you know.  If you need to be seen, our Facility Assistant will screen you at your car, check you in and will let you know when the doctor or nurse is ready to see you.

Flu Vaccination Clinics

When we have been advised that the 2022 Flu Vaccination is available, we will arrange drive through flu clinics as quickly as possible.  Non funded flu vaccinations will cost $35 per person this year.

COVID Vaccination Clinics

Covid Vaccination Clinics are Friday & Saturdays 10.30am – 3pm from 4 March 2022.  Both clinics will offer walk-ins together with pre-booked appointments through Book My Vaccine. 

Friday clinic walk-ins are people aged 12 years and over.  Saturday clinic walk-ins are for 5-11 years and also those aged 12 years and over.  Both clinics offer first and second vaccinations as well as boosters.

Repeat prescriptions

If you need a repeat prescription or to make an appointment, PLEASE RING reception on 033193501 to request these OR get onto the My Indici patient portal to request these, or check your results.  If you are not yet registered for the portal, contact reception to assist you in registering.  DO NOT walk in to the medical centre as you will not be able to come in unless you are seeing the doctor or nurse.

PCR testing

We will continue to test Monday to Friday and if you need to be tested please ring 03 319 3501 to book with the nurse.  We are waiting for more RAT tests which will enable us to do supervised RAT tests at the facility and will update you when these are available.

RAT testing

Kaikoura Pharmacy is able to do RAT testing for unvaccinated people travelling in New Zealand and is also doing Ministry of Justice RAT tests for people attending court locally.

Critical worker RAT tests are available from Kaikoura healthcare for employees of critical business which have applied to MBIE for registration as a critical employer.  Please follow the process outlined on their website and ensure your employee brings with them the following for collection of RAT testing kits

• Proof of critical workforce business code (e.g. email from MBIE confirming registration)
  • a letter identifying they are a critical worker (from employer)
  • Photo ID e.g. drivers licence/passport
  • Copy of the text or email received from the Ministry of Health confirming they are a close household contact

Ka pai for all the mahi by staff and our community volunteers, including Kaikoura District Council team, Kaikoura New World, Kaikoura Maori Wardens, Te Tai o Marokura, Kaikoura Violence Free Network, Carla Walford & Phil Guthrie, Delwyn Riding, Kate Corbett and Paul who helped on the sausage sizzle – you all rock! Check out our photos!

Check out the cheeky wee vid made by our Council friends … https://www.facebook.com/kaikourahealthcare.

We’ll be continuing to vaccinate at current capacity until the end of October, after which there will be limited capacity to provide first dose vaccinations with our focus shifting to using our resources to provide second dose vaccinations to the community. So STOP, wait…it’s time to vaccinate right now while the jabs are available in Kaikōura!

Our COVID vaccination clinic’s currently run:

Tuesdays 11am-2pm; Wednesdays 3-6pm (adults & children); 

Fridays 10.30am-3pm with walk-ins 2-3pm; Saturdays 10.30am-3pm (adults & children) with walk-ins 2-3pm. 

We will continue to vaccinate first and second vaccinations as well as boosters and encourage anyone in the Kaikōura community who is yet to receive their vaccinations to book via Book My Vaccine or call 03 319-3501 to speak with Ari, our Covid-19 Vaccination Administrator who will assist you with booking.

Right now, the Kaikōura District is New Zealand’s top town for Covid-19 vaccinations. Data supplied by the Ministry of Health shows as of Wednesday (29 Sept), 55 per cent of our population have had both jabs. To read more, click here https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12475881

We are so grateful for the support the Maori wardens provide to the Covid Vaccination Programme in our community. How nice to have their mahi acknowledged on Seven Sharp with the ASB Good as Gold Award. Thanks ASB and Nga mihi nui to our fantastic wardens. Check out the video! https://fb.watch/7_rEvj9VeC/