There was a strong turn-out on Saturday afternoon, for the second "Do It 4 The East VaxFest "event, targeting Pasifika and Maori communities in Waitangirua, Porirua. Similar to last month's vaccination event in Cannons Creek it featured a festival atmosphere with free give-aways, stalls and performances from local artists.
These events are targeted at raising vaccination rates amongst Maori and Pasifika; with Cannons Creek and Waitangirua having been identified as areas of low uptake of the Covid vaccine, particularly amongst youth.
"Do It 4 The East VaxFest "event in Waitangirua Photo: RNZ Pacific
At the Waitangirua festival event 312 doses were administered; 129 people were newly vaccinated, and 182 received their second dose.
Moera Tuilaepa-Taylor compiled this report
Among the first dose recipients were local residents Patrick Masoe and his brother in-law Logovae Grainger. For Patrick, his decision to get vaccinated was a religious one.
"I just had peace to do it today. I'm basically religious but I felt I had peace from God to do it, so that's the reason behind it."
Patrick said he didn't talk to anyone before getting vaccinated.
"I didn't want to be influenced by other people's opinion and therefore that's how I got my peace to do it on my own terms."
Patrick Masoe said his wife and three kids have all been vaccinated.
Patrick Masoe, Tanisaani Pauta, Logovae Grainger (L-R) Patrick and Logovae received their vaccine doses from nurse Tanisaani. Photo: RNZ Pacific
Logovae Grainger joined his brother-in-law Patrick and also got his shot.
"Like Pat, I had to wait for the right time and I wanted to find out a bit more about the one, the vaccine and what it does and two, whether it suitable for me and my family."
Logovae Grainger said he needed to get it done, both for his own protection and because of his line of work.
Pastor Eddie Faletutulu and his wife also received their first vaccinations on Saturday. As leaders in the community, the Pastor said that it was very imporant for he and his wife to get vaccinated.
Pastor Eddie Faletutulu Photo: RNZ Pacific
"As church leaders and community leaders, I'm an expert on spiritual growth, I'm not an expert on the vaccines, so I would always say, go see your GP, get medical advice where the experts are, and if people can do that, I think they will come to a conscious decision," he said.
Pastor Faletutulu acknowledged that there are some within the church who are vaccine hesitant, and he encouraged them to talk to their GPs and hear information from experts.
Sella Vaoliko is using social media to engage with Pasifika youth around Covid-19.
Sella has started a series on social media called "Sella-mation" with the support of Positively Pacific, a website set up by a partnership between Pacific Health Service Providers and the Capital Coast and Hutt Valley District Health boards in the Wellington region,
"Positively Pacific, reached out to me and we've called our series Sella-mation series, giving out the correct information, positively through humour."
Sella Vaoliko said she has had a lot of positive response to her series.
Sella Vaoliko , the creator of Sella-mation Photo: RNZ Pacific
As of 22 November, 2021, the Pacific vaccination overall progress for the Capital Coast Health and the Hutt Valley District Health Boards were 87% first dose, 76% fully vaccinated - 25,195 first doses, and 21,958 second doses (fully vaccinated)
Tagaloa Junior Ulu, is the Director Pacific Peoples Health for the Capital and Coast and Hutt Valley District Health Boards. He said he's pleased with how the events have been going.
"It's a real collaborative effort, and the community have really been a part of this, actually, they have dedicated this. All we have done as a DHB is help to facilitate it through resources.
But the ideas, intellectual property is from the community which is how it should be," he said.
Local Mana MP, Barbara Edmonds, said she's been impressed with the number of young families coming along to the events.
"Currently Porirua East as a whole, just has under 2500 people that need to get either vaccinated for their first dose, or booked for their vaccination, and they are mostly between the age of 12 and 39"
Labour MP for Mana, Barbara Edmonds Photo: RNZ Pacific
Ms Edmonds also went door-to-door in Waitangirua on Saturday, to get families to come out for the event.
"Really really positive. We have been fortunate to receive some sponsorship so as we go around the doors, we are giving people vouchers at the doors to say thank you for getting vaccinated. [We] Only had one incident where a person was hesistant, vaccine hesitant, and we had done 40 just down the road."
With the vaccine roll-out proceeding, more community vaccination events are planned for the Wellington Region before Christmas.