Maaori-run vaccination centres moving the dial

Waatea Team Maaori-run vaccination centres moving the dial

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A South Auckland health provider is expecting a rush on vaccines during the lockdown.

The Whānau Ora Community Clinic in Wiri was open until almost 11pm last night testing for COVID-19, and it’s open again today.

Chief executive George Ngatai says it’s also reopening its vaccination site in Takanini on Saturday, once it has beefed up staffing so it can deliver more than 700 shots a day.

He says a strong Māori presence is the best way to get Māori testing and vaccination numbers up.

"Having Māori organisations like ourselves, Manurewa Marae, Papakura marae, Turuki Health, advocating and encouraging our people to consider being vaccinated, that's a key thing. Unless our people see the workforce that are in vaccination centres look and sound like them, then there is going to be that lack of engagement," he says.

Mr Ngatai expects it will be another 18 months before New Zealand truly feels it has got on top of the pandemic.

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