In early March, the Ministry of Health and Ministry for Pacific Peoples held a series of Zoom fono to provide information for Pacific communities about vaccinations for COVID-19, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) and influenza.

One key piece of feedback that emerged is that there has been insufficient communication between the government and Pacific communities about the COVID-19 vaccination, and that mixed messages and misinformation about vaccine safety are still prevalent within Pasifika communities. 

In response, Total Healthcare filmed a short Q&A between Total Healthcare’s Lorenzo Kaisara and Tāmaki Health’s director of clinical, quality and CME, Dr Richard Hulme. The video touches on vaccine safety, side effects, who can get the vaccine and when. Samoan subtitles have been added to the first version, with more Pacific languages to follow. 

View the video below, and please share with your networks. Please note since the making of this video vaccinations have opened up to everyone aged 5 and over (not 16 years as mentioned in the video).