While the healthcare system in New Zealand has come a long way, there are still many gaps when it comes to meeting the health needs of the Māori communities. Luckily, things are changing for the better. The government, alongside the Māori communities and other healthcare providers, has found ways to make access to healthcare much easier for its people. We look at where you can get a health check and vaccine near you, regardless of where you live.
Where Can You Get a Health Check?
We can all agree that health is wealth. In fact, when someone feels under the weather, everything else takes a backseat, including their job and family responsibilities. So, where can you get the help you need when you feel unwell?
- Local General Practice (GP) Clinics. It’s always advisable to have a primary care doctor since they have access to your medical records, are able to diagnose you much faster, and can help you keep up with all the necessary vaccinations. And if you are keen on finding a doctor whose practices align with Māori customs, this is also possible.
- Maori Health Providers. You have likely heard of Kaupapa Māori healthcare providers who offer a holistic healthcare approach that incorporates traditional Māori healing practices. Since they aim to make healthcare as accessible as possible, many of them actually go the extra mile and cater to people in remote regions and offer in-home visits. Like with GPs, they offer both medical diagnoses as well as vaccinations.
- Outreach healthcare services. Even though many people have moved to the urban areas, there is still a huge population of Māori communities in rural or underserved areas which is unable to access quality healthcare services. Outreach services exist to serve this gap. Through mobile clinics which move from one community to another, the healthcare workers in these programs are able to diagnose patients as well as administer vaccination shots.
- Pharmacies. Did you know that you do not have to go to a doctor to get your vaccine shots? Over the years, many pharmacies have trained their pharmacists to administer vaccines. It helps you beat the lines at your doctor’s office while still getting quality services. Even so, it’s important to get a prescription from your doctor and ensure they know about your vaccination schedule.
With so many options available, it’s easy to determine the medical care that best suits your location and budget.
Where Can You Get Vaccinated?
Like the old adage goes, prevention is better than cure. And over the years, more people have come to realize that vaccinations are actually a good thing. But which shots do you need and where can you get them?
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Flu vaccines. These shots are free for many people, including children under 12 and people over 65 years old. For Māori communities, the cutoff age is actually lower, such that you can get free shots once you are 55 or if you have a specific medical condition that necessitates these shots. Since these shots are quite popular, you can get them through your GP, at a local healthcare center, a mobile clinic, or at a pharmacy.
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COVID-19 boosters. While these shots are widely available, it’s important to note that not everyone qualifies to get one. You can check your eligibility criteria through online resources. And if you do qualify, you can get the shots from your GP, a pharmacy, outreach services, or a local healthcare center.
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Childhood (Tamariki) vaccines. As part of protecting the children from deadly diseases such as measles and whooping cough, the government rolled out a National Immunization Schedule. This program allows all children to get free vaccinations from the time they are six weeks old. You can get your child started on such vaccines through your GP or local healthcare center. Also, you can find the nearest Well Child Tamariki Ora center within your community, where you can get advice on how best to look after your child.
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HPV vaccines for Rangatahi (young people). All around the world, healthcare providers have been urging younger people to get the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in order to protect them from different forms of cancer. And such is the case in New Zealand. Your child can get it as part of a school immunization program, which often takes place around Year 7 or 8. But if they do not get this, you can take them to your GP, a local pharmacy, or a local Māori healthcare center.
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MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) shots. The measles outbreaks all over the world are proof that communicable diseases can spread fast and have devastating effects. Luckily, you can protect yourself by getting the MMR vaccine. In fact, the shot is free if you were born after 1969 and have not had two doses. To complete or start your dose, you can visit a local Māori healthcare center, a pharmacy near you, or get the shot from your GP.
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Travel vaccines. Since these shots often vary based on where you are going, they are often not free and usually require authorization from your doctor. You can get them from your GP or a travel health clinic near you.
If you want to find a healthcare center near you that offers these services, you can use the Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand) Website, which will give you information about public healthcare services, including the Kaupapa Māori options near you. For pharmacies or local GPs, you can use a local online search, and you can then narrow your options based on your location and preferences.
