Top GP quits vaccine group

Rollout criticised as ‘grossly inequitable’

Atop Ma¯ori GP has quit the Government’s expert immunisation advisory group over concerns around the vaccine rollout, saying he felt his voice wasn’t being heard.

Dr Rawiri Jansen’s resignation comes days after he told the Herald he considered it an “overwhelming failure” on his part and the Government’s that the vaccine rollout did not prioritise Ma¯ori below 65.

Members of the Ma¯ori pandemic group, Te Ro¯pu¯ Whakakaupapa Uruta¯, which Jansen co-chairs, have previously criticised the Government for treating Ma¯ori as an afterthought in its Covid-19 response.

In January, Jansen voiced expectations that Ma¯ori under 65 would be included in the vaccine priority groups, given the poor health outcomes experienced by Ma¯ori earlier than Pa¯keha¯.

While the rollout’s second vaccination priority group included older Ma¯ ori and Pacific people cared for by their wha¯nau and the carers themselves, there is no mention of the priority group Jansen expected.

Speaking to Radio Waatea, Jansen said he was particularly frustrated by the Government’s refusal to adopt an age adjuster, so Ma¯ori could be included in the high-risk elderly group at 50 or 55 rather than 65.

While the Government said Ma¯ori

health providers would have the discretion to vaccinate people earlier if necessary, Jansen said most Ma¯ori relied on mainstream services.

Jansen previously told the Herald the process gave him an “overwhelming sense of failure”.

“It’s going to lead to a grossly inequitable vaccination programme because we didn’t follow the science.”

He also took aim at the Government for what he claimed was a decision based on optics, not science.

A Ministry of Health spokesperson previously said people who were at risk of getting very sick from Covid19 — many of whom were Ma¯ori — would start to receive the vaccine from next month.

The ministry has been approached for further comment.