Ardern on tour to push greater vaccine uptake among Māori

October 7, 2021

The Prime Minister says it's about "everyone carrying their own individual armour" against Covid.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is calling on Māori to get vaccinated as the Government faces increasing pressure to increase its uptake among vulnerable communities.

Currently, about 80 per cent of those eligible have received their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine, while 51 per cent have received both doses.

Māori continue to lag behind, with the latest modeling suggesting that when the general population hits a 90 per cent vaccination threshold, just 62 per cent of Māori will be vaccinated.

National Party health spokesperson Dr Shane Reti sent out a release on Thursday in which he said he had written a letter to Health Minister Andrew Little in February. The letter, which came prior to shipments of the vaccine reaching our shores, called for the Government to provide funding and support for Māori iwi health providers on the frontlines of the rollout.

Ardern and her ministers were in Rotorua on Thursday as part of a three-day regional tour to push for greater vaccine uptake in the Māori community.

“I’m concerned wherever we have low rates because that means we have fewer people who are protected, and that’s what this is about - making sure that everyone is carrying their own individual armour, and that’s what the vaccine provides against Covid,” Ardern told reporters on Thursday afternoon.

“I know there’s a lot of misinformation but there’s also a lot of knowledgeable, trusted members of our community who are there to share the message that the vaccine is safe.

“I just ask anyone who’s got questions, reach out to others who have been vaccinated for kōrero.”

She says the push is not about having the wider community “listen to me about vaccines”.

“What I’m asking them to listen to are experts, their whānau, people that they already have those trusted relationships with - it can’t just be about Government.”

Ardern urged people with concerns to “reach out to people you trust" such as health providers and people who have already been vaccinated.

"Just have the conversation, but I just want to make sure that everyone has the protection we have available to us.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

“We’ve got no time to waste so please, have that kōrero now.”

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