Vaccines rolling out to care homes
More than 4600 Covid-19 vaccines have already been delivered across the Bay of Plenty. And that number is set to increase as the vaccination programme rolls out in 33 aged care facilities.
Former All Black Stu Wilson, now a Bay of Plenty District Health Board (BOPDHB) orderly, jumped at the chance to get his second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine yesterday at Tauranga Hospital.
“Someone says you are getting a free jab, and I am in straight away,” said the 66-year-old. “We are at the vulnerable age, mid-60s, and we are pretty aware of what is happening around the world.”
Bay of Plenty District Health Board chief medical officer Kate Grimwade said they started vaccinating both aged care facility residents and carers at the start of this week.
Bay of Plenty DHB Covid-19 incident controller Trevor Richardson said the full aged care rollout was expected to run for about eight weeks.
“All residents at 33 rest homes and staff will be offered Covid-19 vaccinations.”
Grimwade said so far the Covid-19 vaccine rollout had been a “great success” in the Bay.
“As of this morning, we have delivered 4625 vaccines across the district, which really represents the amazing effort by everybody involved.” Elderly Ma¯ori living with wha¯ nau outside of aged care facilities were next in line, she said.
“We recognise that our older Ma¯ori, who are very vulnerable to Covid19, may not be in our aged residential care facilities.
“It is not just about looking after our staff, it is about caring for and protecting the communities we are serving. And it is about our Treaty obligations to some of our most vulnerable communities.”
Information about the vaccine would be made available to elderly Ma¯ori through local health providers and community links.
“The information will come to you,” she said.
Grimwade said vaccinations would start to roll out to the general community in mid-may, with vaccination centres to open throughout the region.
Asked how the DHB was working to address Covid-19 vaccine conspiracies and misinformation in the region,
Grimwade said the first step was to “accept and acknowledge” how people felt.
“People are scared. It is a very human response.”
The way to combat the circulation was to publicise true stories around the vaccine, she said.
“People reach for stories because they are worried about what is going to happen. The best thing we can do is spread the true stories and try to make that the predominant storytelling in the community.
“We have an amazing story of a vaccine that has been developed faster than has ever happened and has been rolled out globally in a way we have never seen before. We have to make sure our story is more compelling.”
BOPDHB Pou Tikanga in Te Pare o¯ Toi / Ma¯ori Health Gains and Development, Graham Cameron, said conspiracies and misinformation were most commonly spread via social media.
He said multi-layered communication was key, and the DHB was making sure its voice was heard online.
To prevent the spread of misinformation in Ma¯ori communities, there needed to be regular communication with trustworthy individuals and health providers.
“When they see people they know speaking about the vaccine, giving the right information — that is what changes minds, he said.
“Kauma¯tua, kuia and community leaders talking about their experience getting the Covid-19 vaccine has been really successful in changing the minds of people who might be considered hesitant.”
Cameron said their biggest concern was protecting the elderly.
“That is a key push in our campaigning. One in four of our population in the Bay of Plenty is Ma¯ori. As the district health board, we recognise we have this obligation to ensure equity in our response with our Ma¯ ori communities.”
Wilson, who joined the hospital as an orderly earlier this year, said he didn’t experience any side effects after the first vaccine dose.
“It felt a bit sore, I got a bit of a bruise afterwards, but apart from that nothing. Something that doesn’t hurt for free, I will line up again,” he said.
“I am just a foot soldier, but I am a safe foot soldier now. And I can only say thank you very much for giving me the job and giving me the opportunity to have a jab.”