After 20 months helping the Southland community to stay protected against Covid-19, the Invercargill Immunisation Centre at the Civic Theatre will permanently close its doors tomorrow, Friday, 16 December 2022.

There are, however, plenty of other local providers offering free vaccination against Covid-19.

Since its official opening on 12 April 2021, the centre has delivered over 75,000 vaccinations, including 557 doses in a single day on 26 August 2021.

The centre’s staff also delivered nearly 2000 doses through visits to aged residential care facilities and a home visit service, playing a pivotal role in protecting our most vulnerable people.

Karl Metzler, COVID-19 Vaccination Programme lead for Otago and Southland, thanked the nearly 100 committed staff who have worked in the centre since its opening.

“The staff at the Invercargill Immunisation Centre have been an essential part of the COVID-19 response, helping the people of Invercargill to reach 90% double vaccinated by January 2022, and later providing booster doses and vaccinations against other illnesses, including measles, mumps and rubella,” he said.

“They have had to constantly adapt to high levels of demand, changing alert levels and different delivery models to meet the needs of the community and should be incredibly proud of the work they have done to protect our people in the South.”

Although the time has come to close the centre, there are plenty of other local providers offering free vaccination against COVID-19, Metzler said.

“Immunisation is our best protection against serious illness from COVID-19 and, with lots of summer socialising coming up, I encourage people to make sure they are up to date with their vaccinations so they can enjoy the season to its fullest.”

GPs and pharmacies will continue to offer ongoing vaccination services, as well as advice to their communities about COVID-19 protection.

For Otago and Southland, there are over 70 COVID-19 vaccination providers, with eight providers across Invercargill District, including:

• Bluff Medical Centre, 2 Tone Street, Bluff   
• Glengarry Medical Centre, 75 Glengarry Crescent, Glengarry, Invercargill   
• He Puna Waiora, 74 Don Street, Invercargill
• South City Medical Centre, 270 Elles Road, Strathern, Invercargill
• SouthCity Pharmacy, 248 Elles Road, Strathern, Invercargill
• Waikiwi Medical Centre, 233 North Road, Waikiwi, Invercargill   
• Waikiwi Pharmacy, 280 North Road, Waikiwi, Invercargill   
• Windsor Pharmacy, 64 Windsor Street, Windsor, Invercargill

There are five other providers across Southland, including both Winton Medical Centre and Winton Pharmacy.

For more information about clinics near you, including those offering walk-in appointments, visit www.southernhealth.nz/COVID19/clinics, call 0800 28 29 26 or visit www.healthpoint.co.nz.