The Bay of Plenty currently has one of the lowest uptakes of the third Covid jab across the country, and the Bay of Plenty District Health Board says they are doing everything they can to ensure ease of access for booster shots.

More than 50,000 people in the Bay of Plenty who are eligible for a Covid-19 booster are yet to do so.

As of 9am Thursday, March 10, the Bay of Plenty's booster rate sits at 69.2 per cent. Only Counties Manukau and Waikato DHBs have lower rates, sitting at 67.1 per cent and 68.5 per cent.

The Bay of Plenty's current fully vaccinated rate, comprising two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, sits at 93.5 per cent.

However, a booster shot provides increased protection against the Omicron variant - which has stimulated New Zealand's biggest Covid-19 wave to date.

Today, the MOH announced a new daily caseload of 1392 cases in the BOP, with 23 people currently hospitalised in the region.

The BOPDHB's Covid-19 Programme senior responsible officer Brent Gilbert-De Rios says targets are not being set for boosters as they simply want as many people as possible to receive it.

'Getting vaccinated and boosted is the best thing people can do right now to help the Covid-19 response.

'Boosters also help slow the spread of the virus and are the best way to fight Omicron.

'They lower the chances of getting very sick from Covid-19 so more of us can stay well and that helps free up our hospitals for people who need care.”

As of 9am yesterday, 116,577 people in the Bay of Plenty had received their booster - meaning nearly 52,000 of those eligible have not yet done so.

One potential cause for low booster uptake in both Waikato in Manukau is higher rates of Covid-19 infection in recent weeks.

The Immunisation Advisory Centre currently recommends 12 weeks between infection with Covid-19 and any subsequent vaccinations.

This means many who would have been boosted are not yet able due to prior infection.

More than 50,000 people eligible for a booster have yet to had it in the BOPDHB region. File Image. SunLive.

The Bay of Plenty is also seeing increasingly high infection rates. In the four weeks leading up to Wednesday, March 3, the BOPDHB had a total of 7555 Covid-19 cases. Any of those still waiting for a booster will now face a longer wait.

However, Brent highlights another key problem in the race to get people in the region boosted in response to the Omicron surge.

'Misinformation about the Covid-19 vaccine remains a harmful risk for our community.

'We encourage people to use trusted sources of information about the COVID-19 virus and vaccine, such as www.covid19.govt.nz, www.health.govt.nz and www.karawhiua.nz.”

Brent encourages anyone aged 18 or older, who had their second Covid-19 vaccination at least three months ago, to get their booster as soon as possible - highlighting how the BOPDHB is looking to provide enough opportunities to do so throughout the region.

'We are working with a range of vaccine providers and offering different service models, including drive-throughs, to reach every community in the district.

'From hauora providers to pharmacies to GPs to our Bay of Plenty DHB staff, the vaccine rollout is a collaborative effort.

'We will continue to encourage as many eligible people in the Bay to get vaccinated and boosted because every dose counts towards our collective immunity.”

For more information on booster shots for Covid-19 visit vaccinations.bopdhb.health.nz.