April 26, 2023
Big push needed for Māori immunisation
It’s World Immunisation Week, and health authorities are warning about the increased risk caused by falling vaccination rates, due in part to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Riana Manuel, the chief executive of the Māori Health Authority Te Aka Whai Ora, says only two thirds of tamariki Maori are immunised, and Māori continue to have the lowest rate of immunisations at all milestone ages compared to the total population.
She hopes relationships built during the pandemic with Māori, Pacific people and disabled people will help providers to address the fall in immunisation rates for other diseases.
She says it’s not enough to set-up vaccine centres, as trust needs to be built with whānau first, often kanohi ki te kanohi.
In New Zealand, children are immunised against 13 preventable diseases, including whooping cough, chickenpox and measles.