Northern Advocate
  • Northern Advocate home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Property
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Sport
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings

Locations

  • Far North
  • Kaitaia
  • Kaikohe
  • Bay of Islands
  • Whangārei
  • Kaipara
  • Mangawhai
  • Dargaville

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • Kaitaia
  • Whangārei
  • Dargaville

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Northern Advocate

The 90% Project: Mahitahi Hauora provides free GP appointments for Northlanders on the fence about vaccination

Northern Advocate
4 Nov, 2021 04:00 PM2 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Hanibrez Sipu is one of the registered nurses at Te Hau Āwhiowhio ō Otangarei Health Centre helping to vaccinate the community. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Hanibrez Sipu is one of the registered nurses at Te Hau Āwhiowhio ō Otangarei Health Centre helping to vaccinate the community. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Northlanders unsure about the Covid-19 vaccine can book a free GP consultation anywhere in the region to discuss their worries.

People living in Tai Tokerau either unvaccinated or who have only received their first jab can book a free appointment at any general practice in the region – even if they are not enrolled - until November 15.

The cost is covered by funding from Mahitahi Hauora Primary Health Entity, which was open to extending the deadline if the uptake was positive.

Chief executive Jensen Webber said the PHE wanted to let people have in-depth conversations with health professionals about the benefits and side effects of the vaccine.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"We're making sure cost and access to healthcare professionals are not barriers," he said.

"There are people in our community who could be at risk of losing their jobs after the impending due date for professions affected by mandatory Covid-19 vaccination, and they need an opportunity to make an informed decision.

"Others feel hesitant or anxious about getting vaccinated because of the rumours and misinformation they may have heard, or feel uncertain whether the vaccine is safe for their individual circumstances."

Webber said those people needed a chance to have their questions answered by people they trusted.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Hanibrez Sipu, a registered nurse at Te Hau Āwhiowhio ō Otangarei Health Centre, said the opportunity for a trusted kōrero with health professionals went a long way in hesitant communities.

An example she gave was a woman who was hesitant about the vaccine as she was upset that it was mandated and not a choice.

"She said to me, 'just get it over and done with, and I'll cry when I get home'."

Sipu said she put the vaccine down and began to speak to the woman about her concerns and feelings.

Discover more

New Zealand

'Makes me sick': Mum cuts through vaccine lies linked to son's death

28 Oct 04:00 PM
Kahu

History's grim lessons key to iwi's vaccination success

29 Oct 04:00 PM

Classic cars, jabs converge in rescue chopper fundraiser

01 Nov 04:00 PM

Peeni Henare helps with Northland's vaccination push as Whangārei Pak N Save is location of interest

04 Nov 03:02 AM

Sipu said kōrero such as this provide health professionals with the chance to explain the data and debunk the many myths swirling around the vaccine.

"We're not trying to convince you to get vaccinated, we're making sure you have the proper information and understanding to decide what is best for you."

"The purpose of this is to give people the tools to carve their waka and make their own path," she said.

People keen to book a free appointment should contact their general practice.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Northern Advocate

Northern Advocate

The Good Drop: Warehouse, Salvation Army team up for textile recycling

Northern Advocate

Police name person who died in early morning Kaitāia crash

Northern Advocate

Kaipara mayoral hopefuls on rates, museums and what they would do differently


Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Northern Advocate

The Good Drop: Warehouse, Salvation Army team up for textile recycling
Northern Advocate

The Good Drop: Warehouse, Salvation Army team up for textile recycling

Donors receive a 10% voucher for clothing purchases over $30 as an incentive.

14 Jul 04:00 AM
Police name person who died in early morning Kaitāia crash
Northern Advocate

Police name person who died in early morning Kaitāia crash

14 Jul 02:07 AM
 Kaipara mayoral hopefuls on rates, museums and what they would do differently
Northern Advocate

Kaipara mayoral hopefuls on rates, museums and what they would do differently

14 Jul 12:00 AM


Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

06 Jul 09:47 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • The Northern Advocate e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Northern Advocate
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The Northern Advocate
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP