PMA supports push for Māori and Pacific to be prioritized for Covid-19 vaccine
Updates / News, 21 Aug 21
Te RōpÅ« Whakakaupapa Urutā have released a statement urging the New Zealand Government to prioritize Māori and Pacific communities in the Covid-19 vaccination roll out programme.


Māori and Pacific families are already recognized as the most vulnerable communities during this pandemic and this risk is intensified with both having the lowest rates of vaccination uptake. Co-leader of Te RōpÅ« Whakakaupapa Urutā, Professor Paparangi Reid says,

“We have frighteningly low vaccination rates and much of that is due to the Government’s failure to understand and implement a vaccination programme that best meets the Māori and Pasifika population profiles.

The Government’s constant one-size-fits-all approach now places Māori and Pasifika right in the pathway of Covid-19 and to be quite honest, they must act now to prevent serious illness and even death in Māori and Pasifika communities.”

The Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) is in support of Te RōpÅ« Whakakaupapa Urutā’s position and push for Māori and Pacific to be prioritized for the Pfizer vaccine.

Speaking on behalf of the PMA, Dr Collin Tukuitonga says,

“We’ve been trying to say to the Ministry of Health that Pasifika providers should be given priority to vaccinate Pasifika people.

If we have more Pasifika providers take responsibility for the delivery of the vaccine, then things might be better.”

Now with approval given for 12-15 year olds to be vaccinated, Dr Tukuitonga says there is a collective responsibility to ensure the vaccination rollout is successful, right from community leaders to health providers and families.

He reassures that the vaccine is safe and if people have concerns to speak to their family doctor or call Healthline.

“People who are vaccinated will have much lower risk of infection, much lower severity of the infection and a much less likelihood of being admitted into hospital. There’s no question that people will be protected from the Delta variant.”


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Date: Saturday 21 August 2021