Fijians in Tamaki Makaurau Auckland are taking inspiration from their rugby sevens heroes to spread their message of vaccination against Covid-19 in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Nearly 20,000 people in Aotearoa identify as Fijian, an increase of about 5,000 on the 2013 Census.
The community is hosting a three-day vaccination campaign this week as part of Macawa ni Vosa Vakaviti, Fijian Language Week, which was forced online due to Covid-19 level 3 restrictions in Auckland and level 2 for the rest of the country.
Organisers say this year's rollout has been inspired by Fiji's historic victories at the Tokyo Olympics in July.
The Fiji men's side retained their title after beating New Zealand 27-12 and the Fijiana women won their first Olympic medal - a bronze - after defeating Great Britain 21-12 in their finals.
Mangere Centre Park in South Auckland will be a sea of blue as family vehicles draped in Fiji's sky-blue emblems follow the drive-through from Thursday October 7 through to Saturday October 10.
Organiser Nacanieli Yalimaiwai said the Fiji rollout also follows the success of Pacific-led campaigns that have seen a sharp hike in Pasifika vaccination numbers across New Zealand and in particular the youth.
Yalimaiwai said the vuvale community-focused approach will help to vaccinate and protect families against Covid-19 particularly the highly infectious delta variant of the virus.
"It brings the vaccines directly to our communities and helps overcome barriers for the most vulnerable and hard to reach in our communities."
Yalimaiwai said whilst the target population are Fijian Rotumans and Indians, vaccinations will be open to everyone including students from the surrounding neighbourhoods.
The Rotuma community spokesperson, Fesaitu Solomone, said they recognise that majority of Rotumans live in Auckland and "working collaboratively with the Fiji community is a great opportunity to vaccinate our people together."
"This is a huge opportunity to collectively participate, partner and support our Fiji communities to vaccinate our people but a magnificent way to celebrate the Fijian Language Week - Vosa Vakaviti in Aotearoa," Solomone said.
Fijian students at the Victoria University of Wellington conduct a sevusevu (Kava Ceremony) to start off Fiji Language Week. Photo: RNZI/ Koroi Hawkins
The Fono's chief executive Tevita Funaki, who will be the lead clinical provider, said the objective is to turn Centre Park into a Fijian Village, provide a festive atmosphere and make people feel welcome.
Funaki is behind the recent success of the Tongan vaccination campaign that saw over 3,000 people turn up.
"It is important to mobilise the Fijian communities to come forward and get their vaccinations," Funaki said.
The Fono is providing logistical support with the help of the Ministry for Health, NHRCC, Pasifika Futures, Auckland Council and Pacific Media Network.
Fiji-born Auckland residents, clinician Dr Api Talemaitoga, MP Dr Ofa Dewes, and Pacific Director of Nursing Abel Smith will also manage a team of Fijian nurses and vaccinators over the three-day rollout.
Dr Talemaitoga, who is chair of the Pasifika GP Network, said he can't stress enough the importance of protecting families and loved ones against the deadly disease.
In Fiji, more than 600 people have died from Covid-19 while over 12,000 active cases are in isolation.
"I'm really proud that Fijians in Aotearoa are leading the way for Pasifika. Most Pacific groups like Tonga and Samoa are in the 60 percent for first dose, while Fiji is well over 80 percent," Dr Talemaitoga said.
"But I don't want us to rest on our laurels. We should continue to vaccinate ourselves. We're good with our very old category but it's that middle group that we need to work on."
The latest data from the Ministry of Health show 15 percent of Pasifika 12-to-19 year olds are fully vaccinated, compared with eight percent of Maori teenagers and 10-percent of NZ European/Pakeha.
Indo-Fijian parents are urged to teach their children the language. Photo: Supplied
In the 20-34 age group, Pacific people also lead with 27 percent fully vaccinated against both other groups.
"Come on mums and dads, the young ones are wanting to be vaccinated. Let's do it as a family and do it for us as a community," Dr Talemaitoga said.
"I'm really passionate about the theme for this week's rollout - Vaccination for Champions. We showed the world that we can be back-to-back sevens rugby champions when we retained our Olympic crown.
"I'm really keen for us to show Aotearoa that we can lead the way with vaccinations with the Pacific community."
Organisers aim to immunise up to a 1,000 people and close the gap for the 3,000 or so unvaccinated eligible Fijians in New Zealand.
According to the latest data, 13,900 Fijians out of 22,000 are fully vaccinated while 5,000 have had one dose.
Buses will be available to transport people to and from Mangere Centre Park Yalimaiwai said.
One of the newly launched Busifika VAX Buses - Bus No. 12 which is managed by The Fono has been christened The Fono Disciple due to its all-important job of providing cold storage for the Pfizer vaccines.
All throughout the three days, volunteers will deliver information about the vaccines and reminders around mandatory mask wearing, social distancing and hygiene protocols.
All volunteers and the workforce will be tested for Covid-19 before the campaign kicks off on Thursday.
"This is a vaccination drive by Fijians for Fijians, by Pacific for Pacific. This is what our community needs and deserves," said Yalimaiwai.
Fijian Language Week ends on Saturday when the islanders celebrate their independence from Britain in 1970.
Young Fijians learn the traditional meke seasea dance in Auckland. Photo: Supplied
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