Covid-19: Government launches tool to help disabled people get vaccinated

Thursday, 28 October 2021

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announces the launch of ‘The Manaakitanga Journey’, a tool to help disabled people get vaccinated against Covid-19.

A new tool to help disabled people get vaccinated has been launched by the government, but an advocate says its taken too long and is a “slap in the face”.

The Manaakitanga Journey is an online tool on the Unite Against Covid-19 website that will be updated weekly with information specific to disabled people.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the initiative while visiting the Hutt Valley Covid-19 Community Vaccination Centre on Thursday.

Disability advocate and business owner Rachel Peterson welcomes the new online tool to help disabled get vaccinated, but she wishes it had been rolled out sooner.

It is a “super accessible vaccination site” where disabled New Zealanders are provided with assistance.

Ministry of Disability Issues Carmel Sepuloni says The Manaakitanga Journey will remove barriers to vaccination for disabled people.

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The tool will include information such as a list of accessible vaccination centres nearby, how to arrange transport to and from appointments, and how to book New Zealand Sign Language interpreters at clinics.

Information will also be available in alternative, more accessible formats

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said vaccination rates in the disability community are “reasonably good”, but there is still more work to be done.

Minister for Disability Issues Carmel Sepuloni said she believes The Manaakitanga Journey captures the 'essence and importance' of removing barriers to vaccination for disabled people.

'Deciding whether to be vaccinated, finding the most appropriate site and place to be vaccinated at and who to contact if you need transport, are all key parts of the journey that can often affect disabled people’s experiences. This makes that process easier,” she said.

'DHBs and local providers are really committed to getting it right for disabled people to ensure they can access the vaccine in a way that meets their needs in their local area.'

Disability advocate and business owner Rachel Peterson welcomed the new tool, but said the time its taken to roll out is a “slap in the face”.

”It looks to be quite good, (but) why has this taken ten to 12 weeks to come to fruition when they managed it with non-disabled people within days?

“It’s a bit astounding to me, and it wasn't a surprise, all the powers that be knew that there was a huge chance of this happening again.'

Sepuloni said she acknowledged the government could've moved faster.

“But the All of Government Accessible Communications Group have been focused on ensuring all Covid-19 information is accessible and available in alternate formats,” she said.

'As the delta variant has evolved, so has our approach. We’re at a period in the pandemic where now more than ever, we need to accelerate the uptake of vaccinations among all New Zealanders. This again, is another tool in the toolbox to support disabled people to get vaccinated.”

Ministry of Health services support 30,522 disabled people nationwide, and of this group 82 per cent have had their first dose of the vaccine, and 67 per cent have been fully vaccinated.

Ardern said while vaccination rates in the disabled community were 'reasonably good”, there was still work to do.

“We’ve worked hard to ensure that not only do we have accessible sites to visit, we do need to make sure we also have the ability for people to reach those sites,” she said.

“These resources are designed to provide every New Zealander with the information and support they need to be protected from Covid-19.'

One in four New Zealanders identify as disabled or having an impairment.