At 98, Emily Reid has lived through a lot, but nothing like the Covid-19 pandemic.

As the grandparent of a managed isolation facility worker living in the same home, Emily is a close household contact.

She is among the first people in Kawerau to be invited to receive the Covid-19 vaccine.

'I lived through the Second World War but experienced nothing like [this pandemic]. We had bombings in Essex and would have to go into air raid shelters.

'With the war we couldn't do anything about it. We've been able to do more against Covid, that's why I've had my vaccine.”

Emily lives with her son and daughter-in-law Colin and Carol, as well as her grand-daughter who works as security at Rotorua's managed isolation facilities.

Colin Reid says it was 'an easy decision to make”.

They are among hundreds of people to have been immunised at the Lakes DHB immunisation centre already. The eligibility of vaccines is established by the Ministry of Health, starting with MIF and border workers and their close household contacts.

Lakes DHB is now vaccinating Group 2 people, including frontline staff in health organisations, using a booking system.

Group 3 vaccinations are due to start in June with all Group 4 vaccinations and the full programme scheduled for completion in mid-November.