Associate Minister for Health and Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio has announced today that the government will be providing a $1.5 million dollar boost to the Prepare Pacific Community Vaccination Fund.
The funding is aimed at supporting Pacific led initiatives to encourage boosters and vaccination shots. Aupito says, “we need to ensure all our 5-11 year old Pacific children are vaccinated and that all our eligible Pacific peoples get their booster when it becomes due.”
While the nationwide figures for Pacific vaccination rates are high with 94 percent of people receiving their first dose and 97 percent with the second, Minister Sio says current data shows the Pacific booster rates are still low in comparison with other communities. Only 32 percent of Pacific people due for a booster have received one so far compared to 42 percent of Maori. The Minister would like to see those numbers increase.
The Prepare Pacific Community Vaccination Fund, managed by The Cause Collective in South Auckland, will run until 30 June or until the funds run out.
Community groups, Pacific churches, Pacific youth groups and other groups that work with marginalised Pacific communities will be eligible to apply for up to $40,000. While the fund is available throughout the country, groups predominately in Auckland are encouraged to apply.
This afternoon COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins has also announced that, from Friday 4 February, a million more New Zealanders over 18 will be eligible for their booster shot.
Cabinet decided to reduce the interval between a person’s primary vaccination course and the booster from 3 to 4 months.
Source: Ministry for Pacific Peoples
