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Download AudioNational Party deputy leader Shane Reti is questioning whether the ramping up of the Covid-19 programme is diverting resource from other vaccination efforts.
Dr Reti has spent the year casting shade on the Government’s efforts, whether it’s getting enough supplies of vaccine into the country, having the workforce to administer it, or the IT systems needed to track the programme.
Now bulk supplies are starting to arrive, he’s concerned the programme is soaking up public health nurses who administer the HPV and DTP vaccines at year 7.
"Are we going to see a consequence of delayed HPV and delayed diphtheria tetanus pertussis at some point down the line. These are the sorts of things underlying coronavirus. Coronavirus can sort of take all the oxygen out of the room and it is all that is being talked about but people are still getting diabetes, they are still getting gout, they are still getting cancer, they are still getting heart problems, all our routine health," Dr Reti says.
Now the Pfizer vaccine has been cleared for use for children aged 12 to 15, Dr Reti says schools would be the best place to administer it because of the trust built up by other vaccination programmes.
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