Covid 19 coronavirus: Maori will be prioritized for vaccination

By RNZ’s Meriana Johnsen

The National Māori Pandemic group has said that the protection of Maori will be at the center of planning for the launch of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Te Rōpū Whakakaupapa Urutā has previously criticized the government for treating Maori as an afterthought in its Covid-19 response.

One of the group’s members, Rawiri Jansen, is part of the Government’s Immunization Implementation Advisory Group and said that being involved in the planning stages has meant that Maori are considered a priority for vaccination.

“There have been times when we have been very critical of the response and the influence that the Maori have been able to have in terms of our response to the pandemic, so [we’re] looking to really influence that and get a better response by participating earlier. “

“The priority from my point of view is to focus the implementation of immunization on the protection of the Maori community and I think we have it in the right place.”

Jansen said he expected some Maori under 65 to be included in priority groups for vaccination.

“We have evidence to show that Maori will be affected by Covid at a younger age, so our program needs to address that,” Jansen said.

“I understand that yes, it has been agreed that the Maori will focus on that.”

Another Te Rōpū Whakakaupapa Urutā member, Sue Crengle, said there was a strong case for Maori aged 50 and over being considered a priority for vaccination.

He also wanted there to be a specific level of Covid-19 vaccination coverage for Maori.

“Assuming we implement the vaccine quickly and effectively … what level of vaccination coverage will the Government consider satisfactory before starting to do things like open the borders, lower / reduce the requirements to be in MIQ, in quarantine, when will you come to the country? “

“We know that for example flu shots for the over 65s, there are always inequalities and less coverage for Maori, so I think there must be … specific levels of coverage for Maori before we start. to relax our requirements around MIQ, for example. “

The gap between non-Maori and Maori vaccination rates for those over 65 is 9%.

This was down from 12 percent last year after a proactive flu vaccination program led by hapū and Maori healthcare providers.

– RNZ