This issue

• Interim Regional Directors announced
• Updated clinical advice boosters
• Eligibility guide for COVID-19 medicines
• Booster campaign update
• New meningococcal resource

 

Te Aka Whai Ora – Māori Health Authority confirms interim leadership appointments

Te Aka Whai Ora – Māori Health Authority have announced the appointment of our four interim Regional Directors. They are tasked with providing leadership and advice on the strategic needs of regional communities under the new health reforms.

Te Aka Whai Ora Chief Executive, Riana Manuel, says these roles will be crucial in assisting the health system transition over the next six months. “The interim Regional Directors will strengthen local functions and capacity, so the regions are prepared for the shifts required for our new health culture.”

The interim Regional Directors for each region, are:

• Tracee Te Huia – Northern (Counties Manukau, Waitakere, Waitematā, Kaipara, Whangārei, Bay of Islands, Far North)
• Riki Nia Nia – Te Manawa Taki (Waikato-Tainui, Bay of Plenty, Tairawhiti, Te Arawa, Tūwharetoa, Taranaki)
• Patrick Le Geyt – Central (Whanganui, Manawatu, Rangitikei, Horowhenua, Whanganui-a-Tara, Tararua, Wairarapa, Kapiti, Te Matau a Maui)
• Mata Cherrington – All Te Waipounamu

Each appointee has a long-standing and successful relationship with their respective region and she is confident they will take an approach that fits with the unique kaupapa of the area.

 

COVID-19

Updated clinical advice re boosters and pregnant people

It is recommended that pregnant people receive a booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine to help protect them and their baby against the effects of COVID-19.

The booster vaccine can be given at any stage of pregnancy. If you are 18 or over, you can get your Pfizer booster at least 3 months after your primary course (for most people, this is 2 doses). If you are 16 or 17, you can get a Pfizer booster at least 6 months after completing your primary course.

You can also discuss the timing of your booster with your midwife, obstetrician, doctor, or health professional.

A second booster is not yet needed by younger people who are generally healthy and do not have underlying health conditions. This includes people who are currently healthy and pregnant. If a second booster is recommended for you and you are pregnant, this is due at least 6 months after your previous dose.

 

Booster campaign update

You will have seen that the media schedule for the next few weeks of the new campaign is in the market now. Collateral development is progressing.

The first phase of this campaign is currently in market with mainstream and CALD (culturally and linguistically diverse) radio stations, print and digital assets.

Phase two sees the introduction of new animated AV content (All of NZ version) on TV and Out of Home (screens in GPs and health providers) live from w/c 22 August. A Pacific Island and Māori animation created by a Māori and Pasifika agency will be available in the following week.

New collateral including flyers, posters and online assets will also be available.  

 

Translation services available in over 40 languages

An update to the Book My Vaccine (BMV) site on 25 August will remind consumers that translation services are available in over 40 languages.

Consumers can call the COVID-19 Vaccination Healthline on 0800 28 29 26 for support in over 40 languages. Vaccination support information is also translated into 28 languages on the COVID-19 website. Canterbury, and many other Districts, have telephonic language translation support for consumers at COVID-19 vaccination sites.

 

MENINGOCOCCAL

New meningococcal resources

New collateral – poster and flyer- promoting meningococcal vaccination to young people living in shared accommodation settings is available. They are being sent to universities and boarding schools. You may like to share them with local contacts, particularly student health or youth health providers.

The new resources can be found on the Dropbox: Meningococcal.

 

GOOD TO KNOW

• Our latest Māori and Pacific COVID-19 vaccination data is now available here.
• This week’s flu vaccination data is available here.
• Korero with Riana – Regular Monday hui with Te Aka Whai Ora Chief Executive, next week she will be joined by our Chief Medical Officer, Dr Rawiri Jansen. If you have any questions for Riana please email them to info@teakawhaiora.nz or michele.bristow@health.govt.nz

 

Update on collateral on Dropbox

• Don’t forget there is a range of collateral you and your providers can use to promote vaccinations. Please feel free to share this link and the collateral widely: Dropbox: NIP – vaccine resources – Simplify your life.
• You can also find a range of vaccination stories to share on our YouTube channel. Please note we have recently added te reo Maori translations for Flu, Covid-19 and MMR consent forms.

Eligibility guide for COVID-19 medicines

This guide helps explain who can get free antiviral medicines (Paxlovid and molnupiravir), to reduce their risk of hospitalisation.

• They are prescribed by healthcare providers or may be supplied without a prescription from some pharmacists for people who have caught COVID-19 (or are probable cases) and are at high risk of serious COVID-19 illness.
• Your usual healthcare provider or pharmacy will check the latest information on Te Pātaka Whaioranga – Pharmac’s website and your overall health, before giving any antiviral medicines.
• Updated Access Criteria for antiviral COVID-19 treatments – (Pharmac.govt.nz).

 

Useful Links

• Te Aka Whai Ora website this link
• Manatū Hauora publishes weekly summary reports of COVID-19 data for Māori and Pacific. To view the reports, click on this link
• Mask wearing video available to socialise on your websites this link

 

 

 

Michele Bristow

Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Manu

Communications Manager| Internal and Systems Strategy and Transformation

waea pūkoro: +64(0) 21 738570 | īmēra: michele.bristow@health.govt.nz