Porirua will hold its first ‘Pasifika Youth Vax Festival’ vaccination day this Saturday 16 October in a drive to get more Pacific young people vaccinated.
The event is organised by Capital & Coast DHB and Hutt Valley DHB in close collaboration with Porirua’s Pasifika youth and Ora Toa Health.
Around 74% of the region’s eligible Pacific population have received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine; organisers are aiming to attract Pacific young people as well as their families to increase that percentage.
Jaistone Finau, National President at Tauira Pasifika and one of the Youth Leaders designing and leading the event, says, “The purpose of this event is to inform, encourage and empower our Pasifika youth to get the vaccine. It is important to get vaccinated to protect our communities.”
He also wants to challenge youth. “Our history tells us that our Pasifika people have suffered during pandemics. We only need to look the measles epidemic in Samoa and even before that to the Influenza Pandemic that hit Samoa in 1918. The vaccine is key. Get vaccinated to protect our families and our communities.”
When: 9:00am – 5:00pm, Saturday 16 October 2021
Where: Cannons Creek Cage, Bedford Street, Cannons Creek, Porirua
Porirua’s first Pasifika Youth Vax Festival Vaccination Day is “youth lead, youth designed” and is part of the DHBs’, Pacific health providers’ and PHO’s efforts to encourage Pacific and Māori people aged 12 years and over to get their Covid-19 vaccination “in a familiar, positive and culturally welcoming atmosphere”.
