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Download AudioIt’s full on in Te Taitokerau this week as local health providers get help from West Auckland’s Te Whānau o Waipareira to boost vaccination efforts.
Te Hau Ora O Ngāpuhi chief executive Te Rōpu Poa says given the low uptake of vaccines so far, they welcome any support.
She says approaches tried in the cities don’t work in parts of the north, where poor connectivity makes online booking impossible for many whānau, and comorbidities means they don’t want to turn up for services where they need to queue.
There’s collaboration between the hauora, GPs and the DHB, even there is frustration that privacy laws means they can’t get direct access to names of unvaccinated people from central government data, and instead must make do with heat maps indicating likely localities.
“It’s hōhā not to know we can approach our own whānau. We’re reliant on our own intel, our local knowledge and our relationships with whānau in our area. What we have also is the freedom of choice whānau who will say no before they say yes,” Ms Poa says
This week’s drive is aimed at the 12 to 39 age group, even though vaccination may not be a top priority for many of them.
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