October 26, 2021
Street level push reveals Covid hardship
Manurewa Marae chief executive Takutai Moana Natasha Kemp says taking the Covid campaign to the streets is bringing valuable insights into vaccination hesitancy and the plight of whānau in the pandemic.
The Shot Cuzz bus and vax vans were out in Papakura, Manurewa and Māngere yesterday with prominent Māori doctors on board to answer any questions about the vaccine.
She says many of the 82 people who got their first dose said they would not have got it if the opportunity hadn’t been on their doorstep.
Some cited fear of needles or a lack of transport or money to get to vaccination centres.
“Whānau in Manurewa in the streets we are at talked about which neighbours had Covid and how they needed support, they couldn’t get out and get kai and there’s not enough wraparound support for them. We don’t hear all of that unless we’re out on the street because our whānau are whakamā. They’re not going to ring anyone to tell them they can’t get out or they don’t have access to resource or access to support,” Ms Kemp says.
She says the fact it was all brown faces on the bus made it easier to get the message through on the street.