A Māori health researcher on Covid-19 is urging the Government to put tamariki Māori first or face the consequences of a ‘brown pandemic’.
Dr Rawiri Taonui has contributed to a Ministry of Health working group on vaccinations for Māori aged under 12 years.
According to his analysis, tamariki Māori makes up 53 per cent of all cases and 63 per cent of hospitalisations in the under-12 year’s age group.
Taonui says data emerging from overseas backs the need to prioritise Māori and Pacific children in the vaccination rollout for children.
