Stuff Digital Edition

Pasifika colour shows the way at varsity clinic

Ellen O’Dwyer

Strumming guitars and soaring voices are not the sounds you expect at a Covid-19 vaccination clinic.

But colour, music and dancing filled the hub at Te Herenga WakaVictoria University yesterday morning, kicking off a drive to vaccinate Pasifika students and their families.

The university is holding three days of walk-in vaccination clinics, which started on Thursday and run until today, between 9am and 4pm.

Friday’s clinic was hosted by the Pasifika community, starting with prayer and song.

Edwina Harris, president of the university’s Pasifika Student Council, was the first to get vaccinated.

‘‘For me, it’s about encouraging our community and encouraging our students,’’ she said. ‘‘These lockdowns are unsustainable for us, especially for our Pasifika students. Each time we go into lockdown, it becomes more apparent how difficult it is.’’

Harris – who is working towards a triple major in international relations, political science and development studies – said studying from home was not as simple as ‘‘rolling out of bed and opening your computer’’.

The student population faced childcare challenges, limited internet access, or family commitments – many older siblings took on responsibility for the younger, Harris said.

Harris had heard of some reluctance among younger people about getting the vaccine.

‘‘I’ve been telling them to go and find someone they can trust, whether it’s a doctor or someone from their families, so they can make an informed, conscious decision.’’

Luamanuvao Dame Winnie Laban, assistant vice-chancellor (Pasifika) said: ‘‘The vaccination is about life, it’s about the the desire and the will to live, and to keep everyone safe.’’

The Pasifika people had a ‘‘collective spirit, a New Zealand spirit’’, Laban said, and many thought of families and communities first.

The university had 1300 Pasifika students, who had families and communities, all welcome to walk in for a vaccination, she said.

The Capital & Coast DHB, Hutt Valley DHB, Hutt Valley Pacific Health Service and Tu¯ Ora Compass Health helped put together the event.

‘‘Vaccines with aroha’’ was the ethos driving the mass students events. Tu¯ Ora Compass Health clinical lead Jo Fowler said that many she had talked to had already received their first jab, which she said was promising.

A number had raised concerns with her about how the vaccinations could affect their performance in exams.

‘‘They can overcome these concerns,’’ she said.

Vaccinators were advising people to drink lots of water and wait 15 minutes to monitor symptoms. But getting mild symptoms was a good sign of antibodies, and having an inoculation was far better than the alternative.

‘‘Especially to avoid long Covid, which seems more prevalent in this young age group,’’ Fowler said.

Politics

en-nz

2021-09-25T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-09-25T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://fairfaxmedia.pressreader.com/article/281616718515799

Stuff Limited