Pacific Trust Otago opened the centre in its rooms in South Rd, Caversham, yesterday.
General manager Lloyd Maole said it was important to provide a bilingual space where Pacific people could feel safe.
It was much easier to inform people about the virus and the vaccine when the conversation was in their native language.
Some people who had come from the Pacific Islands were still grappling with English and being able to speak their native language meant they could express themselves and their concerns fully.
It was important the right information got through to the community and he urged any Pasifika people to call if they had questions.
The clinic did a test run on Wednesday, when it vaccinated about 20 people, before opening officially yesterday and vaccinating more than 55 people.
“Bring your bubble. We encourage ‘aiga, kainga. All Pacific peoples over the age of 12 are eligible. And we also encourage our Pasifika university students to attend,” Mr Maole said.
“The vaccine is safe and it is free.”
Pacific Medical Association Group chairman Kiki Maoate said Pasifika people made up about 70% of cases of the current outbreak of Covid-19.
The group was more likely to have underlying health conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular heart disease, which meant the unvaccinated had a higher risk of becoming seriously ill or dying than in other ethnic groups, he said.
