November 28, 2023
Māori providers in Reti immunisation plan
New Health Minister Shane Reti says lifting immunisation rates is a top priority – and he intends to use Māori and Pacific health providers to do it.
He says measles has a higher infectivity rate than Covid – and the country has narrowly avoided an outbreak over the past year, with a few cases that fortunately remained isolated.
“I’ll be looking to work with Māori health providers, work with the sector to rapidly make some progress on those immunisation rates with a very clear set of targets, clear agenda and well-resourced I back Māori health providers and that is what I will do,” Dr Reti says.
With the country going through a fifth wave of Covid, more work could be needed to encourage people to get their boosters.