January 17, 2022
Māori Health experts calling for more funding as Omicron threat looms
Otago University Senior Research Fellow Bernadette Jones says Māori health providers need to be better resourced as an outbreak of the highly infectious Omicron threatens.
She says it needs to happen now so what happened with the Delta Outbreak when Māori health providers had a really difficult time trying to catch up when they were not properly targeted for the delivery of vaccination to Maori.
Bernadette Jones says for example Māori health providers need to be resourced right now for the vaccination of 5 to 11 year olds which begins on Monday.
Auckland University Associated Professor Matire Harwood who is a General Practitioner in South Auckland says she is anxious about lower rates for Māori and a slow uptake of booster shots as the Omicron variant is behind a rise in Covid-19 cases globally.
“Evidence is showing that boosters do provide another level of protection, so the fact that we’re not even achieving the double vaccination is a bit of a concern.
Dr Harwood says she concerned not enough resources have been put in place if an outbreak of the Omicron variant overwhelmed the health system, as it is happening in other parts of the world, and primary and community care have to look after people at home.
She says primary and community care workers are feeling extremely tired and over-whelmed already.