October 05, 2021
Marginalised vital in COVID fight
An expert in New Zealand’s gangs says getting gang members vaccinated may involve addressing some of the social and economic problems underpinning the gang phenomenon.
The latest COVID-19 outbreak has affected a number of gang whānau, and gang members have also been involved in attempts to flout lockdown rules.
Jarrod Gilbert says many gang leaders are concerned about the outbreak and are trying to encourage members to get the jab – but they risk losing support if they push too hard on people who may be more influenced my misinformation.
He says health authorities need to find alternate approaches when dealing with marginalised communities.
“When we all of a sudden need them we wonder why they don’t respond so well so there might be some lessons here we can lesrn about the inequitable nature of society and many of the communities that are so often maligned and marginalised, we might do best to pick them up because when we need them, we need them and it is they turn their backs on us,” he says.