The data revealed by the Ministry of Health exclusively to the Indian Weekender has revealed that 100 percent of 35-49 years old within the Kiwi-Indian community who are eligible for Covid-19 booster vaccination have been jabbed.
According to the data released to the Indian Weekender on Tuesday, February 8, the Kiwi-Indian community was on track to be amongst the first ethnic group to achieve 100 per cent booster vaccination rates, after being the first ethnic migrant community in November 2021 to reach the milestone of 100 per cent double doses of Covid vaccination.
Notably, the Ministry of Health captures data for Covid-19 vaccination in four different age groups across all ethnicities and groups in New Zealand (18-34 years, 35-49 years, 50-64 years, and 65 years +).
Among different age groups within the Kiwi-Indian community, 35-49 year old led in getting booster jabs with 45 percent being eligible for booster 45 per cent (of the vaccinated population) boosted.
It is closely followed by the 18-34-year-old with 27 percent being eligible for booster and 26 per cent (of the vaccinated population) boosted.
As per the Ministry of Health, ‘Eligible booster per cent’ refers to the number of booster doses given as a proportion of people in that age group eligible at the time of reporting, whereas ‘Booster per cent’ refers to the proportion of that age group who have received a booster dose regardless of eligibility.
Four percent eligible seniors still to receive Booster jabs
Within the 65 + years age groups in the Kiwi-Indian community 74 per cent eligible for booster, 70 percent (of the vaccinated population) boosted.
This trend was also similar in the 50-64 year age-group where 62 percent eligible for booster 58 percent (of the vaccinated population) boosted.
This comparative slow rate amongst the seniors within the Kiwi-Indian community may point towards the accessibility challenge that some may experience in getting to vaccination centres.
Echoing these sentiments, Jeet Suchdev, Chairman, Bhartiya Samaj Charitable Trust – a community organisation that works intensively for the welfare of the seniors within the community – said, “Accessibility can be a challenge sometimes for seniors within our community, especially with their children constrained by work schedules and other distractions.
“However, we have put tremendous efforts including providing free transport to all our members and achieve 100 per cent vaccination (including Boosters) for our members,” Mr Suchdev said referring to the senior members of the Trust.
The community was first to get double jabbed in November 2021
Earlier, the Kiwi-Indian community was also the first ethnic group to get 100 per cent double jabbed, way ahead of other communities which were then working towards the elusive goal of getting 90 per cent jabbed – a goal set by the Prime Minister to put Auckland out of four months of lockdown.
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