April 20, 2021
Jansen a loss from COVID immunisation panel
National Party health spokesperson Shane Reti says he’s disappointed at the departure of a representative of the Māori pandemic response group from the government’s immunisation implementation advisory group.
Te Rōpu Whakakaupapa Urutā co-chair Dr Rawiri Jansen says he was frustrated his advice, particularly around putting Māori under 65 years of age in the vaccine priority groups, was not taken up.
Dr Reti says it was a tough role.
"There were some challenges with the data supporting what they were looking to do and I just admire Rawiri for taking a principled approach for many, many years in the area of Māori health and he is one person I take counsel from and I have always found his advice and thinking to be sound so I think that group is lesser for not having his view at the table," he says.
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