Pasifika community hard hit by Delta variant

More than half of the current 148 community cases of the delta variant of Covid-19 are among Pasifika whanau. The Assemblies of God Church of Samoa in Mangere is the largest sub-cluster. Pasifika community groups and health services are rallying to offer support, as hundreds of other families deemed contacts are in strict self-isolation. Early on in the pandemic the Pasifika community was identified as high risk and vulnerable and there were calls for a broad roll out of the vaccine in South Auckland in particular. Dr Maryann Heather is a GP at South Seas clinic in Otara and also a member of the Pasifka Medical Association.