Thursday, 21 October 2021 09:55

Editorial: Get vaccinated!

Written by  Staff Reporters
Rural NZ is again getting the rough end of the stick when it comes to services - this time in relation to Covid-19 vaccinations. Rural NZ is again getting the rough end of the stick when it comes to services - this time in relation to Covid-19 vaccinations.

OPINION: Rural NZ is again getting the rough end of the stick when it comes to services - this time in relation to Covid-19 vaccinations.

It appears the boffins at the Ministry of Health and the Government's Wellington-centric, top-down Covid-19 vaccination rollout programme is leaving rural New Zealanders as the poor cousins compares to their urban counterparts. No surprises there.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand that unlike urban centres, many rural New Zealanders have to travel a long way to get to a city-based vaccination outlet. Meanwhile, with most in rural NZ classed as essential workers getting a vaccination during the day has also proven difficult.

Dunedin School of Medicine research has found that rural Covid-19 vaccination rates are more than 10% behind urban rates. The University of Otago data has found the number of people who had at least one dose of the vaccine was 11% lower in rural areas and up to 19% lower in remote rural areas compared to major metropolitan centres.

As New Zealand Rural General Practice Network chief executive Dr Grant Davidson point out these inequities are expected, but still worrying.

"What is most concerning is that it confirms that the productive rural backbone of our country is significantly at risk. Due to a lack of accessibility in rural New Zealand, it is no surprise that rural populations are lagging in vaccination rates."

Many rural employers have taken things into their own hands to try combat the hurdles their workers face in trying to get a jab.

While not making it mandatory, Fonterra has strongly ecnouraged its employees to get vaccinated. It has been offering workplace vaccination clinics at its sites across the country, through which more than 7,500 vaccinations had been administered to its 11,000 staff.

A number of meat companies have also offered workplace vaccinations and Zespri is also encouraging its staff to get vaccinated.

Federated Farmers has been telling farmers they should do all they can to enable and encourage their staff to get vaccinations.

Meanwhile, some rural and regional health boards have taken it upon themselves to take vaccinations out to the country, by setting up rural mobile vaccination clinics and travelling out to farms and shearing gangs to deliver jabs.

Feds employment spokesman Chris Lewis sums it up well: "The sooner we get everyone double-vaccinated, the sooner we might safely take steps to getting back to where we were with travel, events and all the rest."

More like this

Covid's urban/rural divide

According to a new study from the University of Otago, there was a visible rural/urban divide in Covid-19 vaccination rates.

Covid inquiry to visit Northland

Better understanding the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the people of Northland, and the role communities played in the pandemic response, will be the focus of a visit from the Covid-19 Inquiry, says inquiry chair Professor Tony Blakely.

Reflecting a challenging period

Damien O'Connor admits his six years in office were incredibly challenging, with Covid, droughts, floods, storms, M. bovis and volcanic eruptions to name a few.

Editorial: Time for change

OPINION: With election day only a few days away and advance voting well underway, there appears to be a mood for change in rural and provincial New Zealand.

More pain yet!

China's slower than expected recovery from Covid-19 and an oversupply of Australian sheep meat is causing problems for NZ sheep farmers.

Featured

Govt urged to reduce ETS units

The Climate Change Commission wants the new Government to reduce NZ Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction volumes as son as possible.

Dairy sheep, goat woes mount

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.

Alliance's Pure South cuts win gold

Meat co-operative Alliance Group has bagged four gold medals at the Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards, achieving top honours for every cut entered.

Dairy demand on the rise

There is increasing evidence that dairy demand is on the upswing, according to Rabobank senior agricultural analyst Emma Higgins.

Fert use tumbles as prices spike

Fertiliser use in New Zealand over the 18 months is about 25% down from what it consistently was for the previous decade or more, says Ravensdown chief operating officer Mike Whitty.

National

Machinery & Products

JD unveils its latest beast

John Deere has unveiled its most powerful tractor ever, with the launch of the all new 9RX Series Tractor line-up…

Biggest Quadtrac coming to NZ!

In the biggest announcement that Case IH Australia/New Zealand has made around its tractor range, its biggest tractor is about…

A different shade of blue for Norwood

Norwood and ARGO Tractors, the Italian manufacturer of Landini and McCormick tractors, have announced an agreement that gives Norwood exclusive…

Kubota tests diesel engines

Kubota last month used the UK LAMMA Show to test the water with its new 200hp, four-cylinder 09-series diesel engines.

Claas rings up some big numbers

The Claas Group finished fiscal year 2023 with a substantial leap in sales that reflected the high demand for agricultural…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Too late?

OPINION: Your canine crusader reckons moves by the new government to try and breathe new life into the country's ailing…

Going rogue!

OPINION: This old mutt suggests the new government is going to have to move fast to rein in a number…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter