Text reminders for Covid-19 vaccine appointments are expected to recommence this week.
The Ministry of Health turned off the Book My Vaccine reminder notifications on August 20 to reduce confusion for the population while vaccination centres were being adapted to working under Alert Level 4 rules.
Last week, some Dunedin pharmacies reported an increase in appointment no-shows and put it down to people going to drive-through or walk-in clinics and forgetting to cancel existing bookings, as well as the texts no longer being sent.
Covid-19 vaccination operations group manager Astrid Koornneef said the ministry planned to recommence reminder notifications for vaccination appointments from early this week.
Some district health boards had begun providing more targeted communication to people who had booked appointments and would continue to use that targeted communication, she said.
