18 September 2025
The sun was shining in Hutt Valley as our newest immunisation service opened at the Whānau Āwhina Plunket Waterloo clinic last week.
Our vaccinating Plunket nurses, Sharon Edney and Megan Ratuki, welcomed whānau into a warm and friendly space where five tamariki were vaccinated. Three received their 6-week immunisations after being unable to enrol with a GP, and two completed catch-up 12-month immunisations.
Whānau feedback was heartening. One dad told us we were doing ‘really good work’ and that the Waterloo clinic was such a great place to bring his pēpi for immunisations. Another whānau, waiting on GP enrolment, were grateful their 9-week-old could be immunised at Plunket without delay.
The day ended with a gathering to acknowledge the hard work of the Hutt Valley team and thank community partners, including Health New Zealand Hutt Valley and local medical centres for their support.
Weekly clinics will now run every Tuesday, with the team excited to embed this service as part of their ongoing mahi to support whānau, pēpi and tamariki.
Plunket is continuing to grow its immunisation services across the motu, helping whānau access trusted care in familiar, family-friendly spaces.
Image: Vaccinating nurses Sharon Edney and Megan Ratuki with a Hutt Valley whānau after their immunisation.
