Covid 19 vaccinations: Do it for your whānau, says Ōtaki MP

"We may think we are safe in the Horowhenua, but our people do travel to Auckland and Wellington for church all the time," says Ōtaki MP Terisa Ngobi. Photo / Georgie Ormond

"Do it for your whānau," said Ōtaki MP Terisa Ngobi.

She believes in the message to get vaccinated and has made sure anyone who can is fully vaccinated in her immediate family and she is encouraging everyone to get vaccinated.

"As soon as they are eligible I will get my boys vaccinated. It is the best way to protect those you love and to prevent further lockdowns, though we must remain careful even when vaccinated."

Ōtaki MP Terisa Ngobi has made sure all those eligible in her whānau have been vaccinated.

Aware that you can still catch and pass on the virus when vaccinated, she said the transmission of the virus will be slower and the effects less severe.

"This current cluster has so many Pasefika people in it and it shows how fast this variant is spreading. We may think we are safe in the Horowhenua, but our people do travel to Auckland and Wellington for church all the time.

"This virus is hurting our babies a lot more than previous variants."

She said the low vaccinations rates among Pasefika and Māori really concern her and she is encouraging anyone to get vaccinated. In the past few weeks several drive-through vaccination clinics were held in Levin, Foxton, Paraparaumu and Porirua, specifically aimed at Pasefika and Māori although anyone can go.

As the local MP, she makes it her business to go and visit those clinics to encourage people to get vaccinated and to commend those who do.

"You will be devastated if you are found to be the one who passed the virus on to your parents or small children in your wider family," she tells them. "Get vaccinated for your family."

She said there is only limited capacity in hospitals for seriously ill people and many from Horowhenua need to travel to Palmerston North for hospital care. The bed space there is very limited and if the virus gets out of hand we will be in serious trouble.

"Prevention and therefore vaccination and appropriate measures like mask wearing are the best way to stop this pandemic and prevent further lockdowns."

She said the Government has provided extra money to Pasefika providers, including local Whanau Ora and the DHB as well as food banks to help local families that are struggling due to the lockdown.