Ma¯ori vaccination rate slammed

Expert calls it ‘a sign of failure’ as rates worst in Taranaki

Ma¯ori in one district are being fully vaccinated against Covid-19 at a quarter of the national rate, according to Herald analysis that has found “deeply concerning” vaccine discrepancies across the country.

It comes as from today the country moves on to vaccinating the general population, despite just 10 per cent of group 3, those most vulnerable, being fully vaccinated.

Herald analysis of vaccination data, as of July 20, and current District Health Board-level population estimates have uncovered highly uneven vaccination rollouts across the country. Experts have highlighted poor communication between the DHBs, Ministry of Health and local populations, along with differing numbers of health and MIQ workers across districts, who made up groups 1 and 2.

The worst performer per capita is Taranaki, with a rate of 6.4 per cent overall and just 3.3 per cent for Ma¯ori.

This compares to a national rate of about 11 per cent overall, and 7.6 per cent for Ma¯ori. The national rate for European/other is 12.9 per cent.

It comes amid fears of a local outbreak after two vessels docked at the local port loaded with mariners infected with Covid-19, and as the district ramps up testing after the virus, believed to be the highly-infectious Delta variant, was found in wastewater sampling.

About a third of the Taranaki District Health Board population identifies as Ma¯ori. Multiple studies have identified Ma¯ori particularly vulnerable to Covid-19 due to the higher rates of comorbidities and socioeconomic factors.

The Government received expert advice to prioritise Ma¯ori and lower the age range through the rollout to boost vaccination rates, which it rejected.

Health experts and iwi leaders have slammed the rollout in Taranaki as a “failure”. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health refused to say if it had concerns with the low vaccination rates, nor if it had been in contact with those DHBs. In most DHBs the rate for Ma¯ori is about half the general population, while some are well below half.

There was expected to be a gap initially, given Ma¯ori were underrepresented in the medical workforce who were first to be vaccinated. But now group 3 was being targeted the gap was expected to rapidly narrow. However, this has not occurred, with the gap continuing to widen over five months into the rollout.

Nelson/Marlborough has the highest vaccination rate per capita at 18.1 per cent but Ma¯ori are well behind at 8.7 per cent. West Coast has 17.6 per cent of its population vaccinated, with Ma¯ori at 7.3 per cent.

Even some districts with very high Ma¯ori populations are also struggling to keep Ma¯ori rates up. Bay of Plenty, with about a third of the population Ma¯ori, the general rate is 13 per cent, yet 6.4 per cent for Ma¯ori.

The closest to equity was Capital and Coast and Hutt Valley DHBs, with a general rate of 9.2 per cent and 7.7 per cent for Ma¯ori.

Auckland Metro — Counties Manukau, Waitemata¯ and Auckland DHBs — has vaccinated by far the most people but sits close to the national rate, with 13.5 per cent fully vaccinated, and Ma¯ori at 7.5 per cent.

Te Paati Ma¯ori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, also a leader with South Taranaki iwi Nga¯ti Ruanui, said the poor rates for Ma¯ori were symptomatic of the systemic racism in the health system.

The mass vaccination event planned for Manukau this weekend has also come under criticism for its poor communications with its target Ma¯ori and Pasifika audience, with less than a quarter of those invited booking a slot.

Speaking to RNZ, South Auckland GP Dr Api Talemaitoga said the rollout was a great initiative but event lacked Ma¯ori and Pasifika input.

Ma¯ori health expert and GP Dr Rawiri McRee Jansen said the per capita figures were “deeply concerning”.

“In Taranaki, it’s a sign of failure. With a risk of outbreak from returning travellers, boat crews, to have it that far behind in the vaccination programme is deeply concerning.”

The Ministry of Health declined to answer specific questions from the Herald about if it was satisfied with the low rates for Ma¯ori and vast discrepancies across the country.

In an email response, Covid vaccination equity group manager Jason Moses said the low rates were “largely attributed” to the lower proportion of Ma¯ori in groups 1 and 2 of the vaccination programme — particularly among the frontline healthcare workforce.

This was expected to narrow as they moved further into groups 3 and 4, he said.

Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins made a similar statement a month ago, yet the gap has widened over the same period.

Last week Hipkins said the numbers for Ma¯ori were “lower than I am comfortable with”. Hipkins was not available to comment for this article, and an offer for comment from other ministers was turned down.