Pop-up flu clinic for Māori and Pasifika

Matt Tso Reporter from Community News

​A pop-up clinic in Hawke’s Bay will encourage Māori and Pasifika whānau to get a flu immunisation, with the option of a Covid-19 test.

The clinic will be located at King’s Church in Meeanee on Saturday, 29 August, from 10am to 2pm.

Updates will be posted on Hawke’s Bay DHB’s Facebook page if wait times are longer than expected or supplies run out sooner than anticipated.

Hawke’s Bay District Health Board medical officer of health Dr Nick Jones, said the DHB had arranged the pop-up clinic to remove barriers to immunisation for Māori and Pasifika communities.

“In line with the push underway nationally to increase immunisation uptake among Māori and Pasifika communities, we are really encouraging whānau to come along, get a flu shot and at the same time take the opportunity to be swabbed for Covid-19 because we know these communities have been the most affected by Auckland’s outbreak,” Jones said.

Meanwhile, free Covid-19 testing centres remain open throughout the region, operating in Napier, Hastings, Wairoa and Central Hawke’s Bay.

“We strongly encourage people displaying cold or flu symptoms to call one of the testing centres below, or their GP, to be triaged for testing, which is free,” Dr Jones said.

* Napier: 06 650 4000 open 9am-5pm Mon-Sun.
* Hastings: 06 281 2644 open 8am-8pm Mon-Sun.
* Wairoa: 06 838 8333 open 8.30am-5pm Mon-Fri.
*Central Hawke’s Bay residents need to be referred by their doctor or phone
Healthline on: 0800 358 5453.

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