The Niue vaccination event is taking place today and tomorrow at 15 Robertson Road in Favona. 

As at Monday 25 October 2021, Niue’s Auckland community sit at 79% for first doses of the Pfizer vaccine, while 61% are fully vaccinated. There are 2,629 Niueans in Auckland who are yet to receive their first dose and 5,000 who are yet to be fully vaccinated. 

Dr Monica Liva was involved in the first vaccination event and says there is no specific number on how many people they are aiming to vaccinate for this weekend’s vaccination drive. 

“The goal is always to try and vaccinate 100% of our Niuean community because this is the ultimate target in order for all of us to be safe and to protect our loved ones. 

The event is an opportunity for those who received their first dose at the first vaccination drive to come through for their second, but of course for anyone who hasn’t received their first dose too.”

Dr Liva acknowledges there is still vaccine hesitancy in the community driven by a campaign of online misinformation that feeds off people’s heightened anxiety during this crisis. 

“People are scared to get vaccinated. They hear something from someone that feeds into that fear and then it creates a domino effect.

There are also conspiracy theories still going around, making it difficult for people to decipher what’s true or false. The conspiracy theories play on people's fears and cause dissonance in people's minds.”

However, Dr Liva still believes that the Niue communities’ love for family and each other will encourage many to come along to the vaccination drive because getting protection is more than looking out for yourself. 

“We should do it for our loved ones, our community, our families, our future generations and for the love of Niue island. Let's all get vaccinated so that we can return to hugging each other again, travel back to Niue to eat uga and see our families.”

#pmaunite #pmafamily

Date: Friday 29 October 2021