Pacific people have the lowest vaccination rate for any group in New Zealand.
Fijian GP Dr Api Talemaitoga says the rates are terrible and he feels like a broken record.
“It is really frustrating. There is no involvement of Pacific leadership at the vaccination centres.”
He says the low uptake comes down to the responsibility of DHBs.
“Maybe I’m not talking enough to the people who are running this. I tell the Ministry of Health the differences when Pacific leaders like Junior Ulu ran the Capital & Coast public health vaccination campaign in Porirua. They did 1000 people in one day. They did it like a festival of music, Pacific food, entertainment and of course the vaccination.”
“We have it in Manukau where 15,000 were done in a weekend – only 20% were Pacific and Māori.
Talemaitoga says the Ministry of Health has devolved funding to the Auckland and Northern region DHBs to Pasifika providers.
Watch the talanoa above. For Talmaitoga’s take on the Covid-19 outbreak in Fiji, watch the full talanoa here.
