New Zealand / Covid 19

Weekend vaccination events target Pasifika

12:42 pm on 25 September 2021

Vaccinations are underway at three pop-up events for the Pasifika community in Auckland today.

The Cook Islands community gathering at Atiu Hall for very own mass vaccination event. Photo: Supplied

The drive-through sites are all in Māngere.

The Kuki Airani / Cook Island clinic at Atiu Hall and a Vaccinate Niue event on Robertson Road are open until 4.30pm.

The Samoan vaccination event in Māngere Town Centre is open until 6pm.

Turuki Healthcare GP Dr Monica Liva encourages people to get vaccinated - like they have done in the Pacific Islands.

"The vaccination rates in these three islands are very high, almost 100 percent of their eligible population.

"So we need to come together as a community to increase our vaccination rate to better protect ourselves, our family."

Anyone can get a vaccine at the events without an appointment.

Coromandel MP upset over lockdown

The MP for Coromandel says it has been a challenging and confusing week for people in the Upper Hauraki region.

The community will move down to alert level two at 11.59 tonight.

It was plunged into a short level four lockdown when a released prisoner was able to cross the Auckland border and became infected with Covid-19 in the process.

Simpson said that should never have happened.

"When I questioned the Minister of Corrections in the house this week he really wasn't able to answer any of the questions put to him. And at best, he was able to say, well, the procedures will be reviewed.

"Well frankly, that's not good enough nearly two years into a pandemic."

Simpson said Upper Hauraki residents deserve a pat on the back for getting tested and vaccinated.