Last week we saw the success of the Tongan vaccination drive-through bringing in large numbers of Tongans to be vaccinated. This week Pasifika community leaders are aiming to do the same with our Cook Islands and Niue communities.
Created by the Kia Okotai Community Hub, the Covid-19 Patia’anga drive-through will launch at the Atiu Hall in Māngere from Thursday 23rd September to Saturday 25th September. The vaccination centre will operate from 8:30am – 4:30pm and welcomes all who are above the age of 12 who are wanting to get vaccinated. Appointments are not mandatory, so you can simply show up and let the team take care of the rest.
Many in the community are wanting to return home to the Cook Islands but are restricted due to the travel bubble closure. Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown says the Cook Islands will not re-open a travel bubble to New Zealand until there has been no community transmission of Covid-19 for 14 days and travellers over 12 have been fully vaccinated.
“This is so officials can be sure there are no unknown chains of transmission of Delta in the community that could flare up before enough people are protected by vaccination,” he says.
“We’re one of a few countries in the world that has managed to keep Covid out, and we must not do anything to jeopardise the safety of our people.”
For further information on Covid-19 Patia’anga Drive-Thru, feel free to contact Kia Okotai on 09-347-2811
