Mere Timu and Crystal Deakon Kaimai at a recent vaccination clinic at Rongomaraeroa Marae in Porangahau. This week two clinics will be held in Waipukurau. Photo / Supplied
Mere Timu and Crystal Deakon Kaimai at a recent vaccination clinic at Rongomaraeroa Marae in Porangahau. This week two clinics will be held in Waipukurau. Photo / Supplied
Hawke's Bay's Māori population is falling behind the rest of the population in getting Covid vaccinations, and the issue is being addressed by DHB, iwi and Māori health providers.
As of Friday, 148,253 doses of the Covid vaccine had been administered in Hawke's Bay; 97,691 people have received their firstdose and 50,562 their second.
The data was further broken down and showed 45 per cent of the Māori population has received at least one dose, and 80 per cent of the Pasifika population at least one dose.
Hawke's Bay's non-Māori, non Pacific (all ages 12+), stood at 70 per cent (1st dose) and 36 per cent (2nd dose).
Hawke's Bay DHB's executive director of Māori health Patrick Le Geyt said everyone had an important role to encourage people to learn about the vaccine, and get vaccinated to protect themselves and their loved ones.
He said vaccination uptake continued to be a collaborative effort in the region between the DHB, Māori providers, iwi/taiwhenua groups, Pacific community and primary care.
"It's a great mixture of drive-through, rural pop-up, marae, pharmacy and GP clinics, which all bode well for increased Māori uptake of vaccinations," Le Geyt said.
He said the average age of Māori in Hawke's Bay was 25.
"While Māori vaccination uptake may appear to be lower in Hawke's Bay than other groups, the data actually reflects age band groups per the ministry rollout, starting with the 65 years and over population," he said.
"This group in Hawke's Bay is much smaller than non-Māori, which is why the uptake appears low."
However, as at September 3, Hawke's Bay Māori aged over 65 years had been immunised (two doses) at equitable rates compared to Hawke's Bay non-Māori/non-Pasifika, he said.
Of those, 45.8 per cent of Māori aged 60+ had been fully vaccinated as opposed to 45.6 per cent non-Māori/non-Pasifika aged 65+.
"This infers a very good uptake amongst elderly Māori, with the equity gap narrowing considerably in this cohort.
"Since September 1 when everyone aged 12 and over became eligible to get vaccinated, we are seeing overall rates of Hawke's Bay Māori climbing higher than other ethnic groups, jumping from 30 to 40 percent in last two weeks alone."
Additionally, equity focused pop-up clinics aimed at Māori populations had also proved to be popular with drive-through clinics established in Ahuriri and Hastings, marae and outreach clinics in Wairoa and Central Hawke's Bay in recent weeks, he said.
Registered nurse Gerry Morris administers a a dose of vaccine to Kahu Gilbert, of Wairoa, at a drive-through clinic at the Hawke's Bay Rugby Union carpark in Napier. Photo / Ian Cooper
Workplace vaccinations of employers with high numbers of Māori, such as Silver Fern Farms, had also been popular and school vaccinations at St Joseph's Girls' College was another success.
"Hawke's Bay vaccine providers report the drive-through model has enabled greater uptake by Māori and Pasifika as well as our disabled communities."
Ngāti Kahungunu iwi chairman Ngahiwi Tomoana said he was "very disappointed" to see the low rates of vaccinations amongst the Māori population, but knew it would be a challenge.
"We know there's a mental block, so we're going to use cultural norms, to address the low rates.
"We are approaching sports, churches, and schools to see if they can incentivise 100 members each to turn up. We will offer them iwi support and resources.
"As a group, the Māori population are suspicious of anything formal, so we can't ask them to roll up to the DHB to get vaccinated. So that's why drive-through clinics are proving more popular."
