Developing a Covid-19 vaccine was a result of unprecedented global collaboration, but getting people to take it will take an act of local leader collaboration in vaccine-hesitant regions. Ministry of Health statistics released this week revealed almost a quarter of all surveyed were hesitant about taking the Medsafe approved, Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine. Massey University’s Dr Jagadish Thaker, a communication lecturer who specialises in science messaging, says overcoming vaccine hesitancy in regions which have high rates of people declining vaccinations is key to ensuring uptake of the Covid-19 vaccine. Thaker says these areas need to have clear, repeatable messages from trusted community leaders to ensure the Covid-19 vaccine has a good update. Tom Lee/Stuff Staff at the Founders theatre Covid-19 community testing site in Hamilton following the announcement of a local case.

Source: Stuff February 18, 2021 21:45 UTC