July 10, 2023
Immunisation recommendations to be taken up
Immunisation Taskforce chair Owen Sinclair says he’s pleased the government has taken on board 48 of its 54 recommendations – but he’s concerned not enough is being done to empower Māori communities to lead their own vaccination programs.
The Māori paediatrician says vaccination rates don’t seem to be getting any worse, but Maori rates are still far below those for mainstream New Zealand.
“So the secret will be getting Maori that are immunised by Maori in a place where Maori are completely compatible with being immunised. And that’s a really big challenge. That’s something that will take time – but we’re working very hard to do,” Dr Sinclair says.
He says government had to spend more to roll out Covid vaccination in Maori communities – but it showed Maori-led programmes were far more effective than any alternative.