Compared to other ethnicities, Maori children have had consistently lower immunisation rates which the report says, "...leave tamariki Māori disproportionately vulnerable and exposes Aotearoa to significant risk of vaccination-preventable disease outbreak through inadequate herd immunity."
A concerted effort was embarked upon in 2009 to lift immunisation rates. It formed one of National's Better Public Service targets (later dropped by the incoming Labour government). The result was positive:
Click to view
Maori and Pacific rates climbed markedly as did, unsurprisingly, the rate in the poorest deciles (Dep 9-10)
The next graph, from today's report, shows immunisation by age 2, a slightly different but relevant parameter:
Click to view
Apart from Asian children the gains made have been lost. Some of this is due to the vaccinator workforce being diverted into covid work. However the decline - particularly for Maori - began around 2017.
The current rates are now described as a "crisis". What has happened?
The "barriers" to vaccination are claimed to be poverty, racism, lack of trust and safety concerns.
Despite the vaccines being free, poverty affects rates in every group except Asians, who even in the highest deprivation deciles mostly manage to get their child immunised:
Click to view
According to the report: "Despite childhood immunisations being free, costs are associated with getting to vaccinations, such as transport, time off employment and family members owing
money to practices. Clinic times often clash with work, school pickups, availability of child-minding for children not requiring vaccination at the same time, or other whānau responsibilities."
Yet there is a group who show none of this matters. Perhaps instead of excuse-making, policy-makers could focus on the Asian communities and why poverty doesn't affect their vaccination decisions and actions.
The next 'barrier' is racism characterized by "mono-cultural institutions which simply ignore and freeze out the cultures of those who do not belong to the majority" . Asians aren't frozen out though.
In another twist of logic, because Pacific vaccination rates are better than Maori, yet Pacific families live with "worse deprivation", this "persistent gap can only be explained by systemic racism."
So the racism is only directed towards Maori.
What are we to believe then. That racism against Maori declined up until the period 2014-17 when 2 year immunisation coverage for Maori children was 92-93 percent but it has reappeared since?
Racism is a red herring.
As such it will be far more than a mere irritant if - or when - a childhood epidemic breaks out and Maori children die.
To avoid that tragic eventuality health promoters should quit with bogus excuses and take a hard look at why one group of parents, in spite of all of the so-called "barriers" overwhelmingly safeguard their young against diseases that may be deadly.
Lindsay Mitchell is a welfare commentator who blogs HERE.
Click to view
Maori and Pacific rates climbed markedly as did, unsurprisingly, the rate in the poorest deciles (Dep 9-10)
The next graph, from today's report, shows immunisation by age 2, a slightly different but relevant parameter:
Click to view
Apart from Asian children the gains made have been lost. Some of this is due to the vaccinator workforce being diverted into covid work. However the decline - particularly for Maori - began around 2017.
The current rates are now described as a "crisis". What has happened?
The "barriers" to vaccination are claimed to be poverty, racism, lack of trust and safety concerns.
Despite the vaccines being free, poverty affects rates in every group except Asians, who even in the highest deprivation deciles mostly manage to get their child immunised:
Click to view
According to the report: "Despite childhood immunisations being free, costs are associated with getting to vaccinations, such as transport, time off employment and family members owing
money to practices. Clinic times often clash with work, school pickups, availability of child-minding for children not requiring vaccination at the same time, or other whānau responsibilities."
Yet there is a group who show none of this matters. Perhaps instead of excuse-making, policy-makers could focus on the Asian communities and why poverty doesn't affect their vaccination decisions and actions.
The next 'barrier' is racism characterized by "mono-cultural institutions which simply ignore and freeze out the cultures of those who do not belong to the majority" . Asians aren't frozen out though.
In another twist of logic, because Pacific vaccination rates are better than Maori, yet Pacific families live with "worse deprivation", this "persistent gap can only be explained by systemic racism."
So the racism is only directed towards Maori.
What are we to believe then. That racism against Maori declined up until the period 2014-17 when 2 year immunisation coverage for Maori children was 92-93 percent but it has reappeared since?
Racism is a red herring.
As such it will be far more than a mere irritant if - or when - a childhood epidemic breaks out and Maori children die.
To avoid that tragic eventuality health promoters should quit with bogus excuses and take a hard look at why one group of parents, in spite of all of the so-called "barriers" overwhelmingly safeguard their young against diseases that may be deadly.
Lindsay Mitchell is a welfare commentator who blogs HERE.
7 comments:
It suits our current crop of Left-wing race-obsessed politicians and civil servants to explain every failing as being caused by "systemic racism". Even when the facts show otherwise.
This gives them an excuse so they can continue to follow their racist policies and discriminate against everyone else.
That's why the Maori elite never share out the big payouts they get. If they did then their own racial group's circumstances might improve and the gravy train would stop.
I am always intrigued, in supermarket, shops, parks etc at the obvious devotion of Asians to their children and the degree of stimulating interaction and obvious intelligent interest in all surrounding aspects. And by the disciplined behaviour. Perhaps Asians should be hired as consultants to Oranga Tamariki and Whanau ora. Although when they see how things maori/pacifica operate most would instantly give up in despair.
Over the last few years a roadshow has toured marae preachng decolonisation. The mantra has been picked up and spread by a myriad Maori Studies students and small minded others, all seeking to comply. So maori have developed an anti attitude to anything which smacks of progressive, organised positively intended activity characteristic of colonist enterprise. Hence vaccintion is shunned or at best taihoa applied, tikanga style.
And we now have race being alleged as an issue in kidney transplants. Let me state I acknowledge the fear etc for any one who needs a transplant but I doubt it is easy for any one.
Short term question: is race an issue when matching donors and donees?
Longer term question: to what extent are individuals responsible for their own long term health? Some - not all - health issues are the outcome of lifestyle.
Reply to DM:
1.This is the CRT code regarding race.
2.The single source of any and all problems - i.e. white people - will always pay reparation.
To read: The War on the West (Douglas Murray, Harper Collins 2022) Chapter 1
It's simply because Asians see their children as their future and want the best for them. You see that everywhere: at school, at the pool, the library, shopping mall, and in the street. They still maintain and appreciate the importance of the family unit.
As for Maori, their culture is broken and for all their talk about their tamariki and mokopuna, they are (leastwise those showing up at the wrong end of the stats) typically indolent. They don't take personal responsibility for their health; what the eat, drink and do for exercise, and getting vaccinated is just part of it. Dr Maui Pomare identified it more than a century ago, but no, we mustn't state the simple truth for fear of offending. So what do we do, we allow those at fault and the woke to blame colonisation and systemic racism.
Just when are we going to call this nonsense out for what it is and demand from Maori better role models and to live up to their 'duties' as citizens under the Treaty - you know, that thing they are so quick to reference these days, always for a free lunch at others expense.
Good thinking RA and Dee. Nothing is going to stop the racism short of someone having the guts to rip up the treaty and say "Enough! There will be a new constitution." It will be constructed by consensus and delivered after extensive consultation. There will be no co-governance factor. One people, one law, many cultures. Culture is not relevant to a parliament and it's laws.
MC
To Anonymous
But Prof Claire Charters and her minions have this ground fully covered....
they already drafted a text constitution for 2040 to install He Puapua and full Maori control.
Post a Comment