The Influencers: Leeann Watson

Fun in the sun – with a jab.

I love spring, with all the promise of warm sunny days, catching up with friends and whānau – not to mention lazy days watching the cricket! But this year, Covid-19 has thrown a spanner in the works and as I write, we are stuck in a lingering level 2 limbo.

The fast-moving Delta strain has been one step ahead of our lockdowns, contact tracing, and social restrictions. That’s where vaccines come in. Instead of chasing elimination, the more effective long-term solution is a highly vaccinated population. Vaccinations have been shown to be effective, such as in the United Kingdom where case numbers, hospitalisations and deaths are down.

The overseas outbreaks are proof the virus will be difficult to eliminate entirely, and there will always be a risk of Covid.

Much of the global population is expected to catch the virus multiple times over their lifetimes, however after most of us are vaccinated, it will become another virus that we will learn to manage – just as we do with influenza.

We all have a role to play in getting vaccinated and supporting others to do so too. My challenge to all of you is to work together to ensure that Canterbury has the highest and most equitably vaccinated population in Aotearoa New Zealand. Come on Red and Black – let’s get the vax!