October 2021

I know you have all been very busy responding to this latest outbreak and supporting disabled people. The work you all do is very important, and events like this outbreak only serve to underline how important it is. I can’t thank you enough.

Behind the scenes we have a team that is working tirelessly with the rest of the Ministry of Health and the community to ensure a connected response.

I would also like to ­ acknowledge the work of the Disabled Persons Assembly (DPA) on face covering exemptions. DPA provided information on their website, including an email address where people could request an exemption. This caused an influx of emails which the DPA successfully managed, so thank you DPA for doing that.

I’ve also heard some uplifting stories about how you have been supporting disabled people through the outbreak. We have included a story this month about how MASH Trust  supported people through Level 4 – and they used their Facebook page to challenge other parts of their organisation to do the same. You can read about what they did below.

Paula Tesoriero MNZM, New Zealand’s Disability Rights Commissioner, is also a world-champion athlete and, I was pleased to hear, the Chef de Mission at the recent Paralympic Games.   I enjoyed, and have heard many enjoyed, watching the Paralympic Games in Tokyo. It was great to see the media giving this event the coverage it deserves. The media have also been covering the return of athletes, like this story on javelin thrower Holly Robinson, who was welcomed home by the school she works at.  

With the Tokyo event being delayed by COVID from 2020, there is now quite a short turn-around time before the next big international event – the para Commonwealth Games in 2022. That’s something to look forward to next year.

Enjoy this edition of our newsletter, and again, thanks for the work you all do.

Have an excellent weekend.  

Ngā mihi, 

Adri Isbister – Deputy Director-General Disability.

This month

• Super Saturday
• Lockdown competition builds positivity for Lower Hutt trust
• Workforce Working Group re-established
• Key groups we engage with
• Payment of Individual Rates – Residential Care  
• New COVID Healthline service for disabled people
• Free vaccine services for Auckland region
• Video about COVID-19 vaccination for disabled people
• Administration of vaccines
• Health and Disability System Reforms updates
• The Health Equity Assessment Tool: a user’s guide

Super Saturday

On Super Saturday 16 October, we need your help.

You can help by:

• Get vaccinated! Either get your first dose, or if it has been over three weeks since your first dose, get your second now.
• Spread the word about Super Saturday— think about what you can do as an individual or as a workplace, whānau or community group to help others be vaccinated.
• You might want to host an event or have a 'vaccination party'.
• Talk to people about why you got the vaccine — it helps others who have concerns.
• Share trusted information — some people still need information they can trust if they’re unsure how to book or are worried about vaccination.
• We can help you book transport if you need it or ask any questions via Health Line 0800 28 29 26 for free 8 am – 8 pm Monday to Friday and ‘push 2’ to speak to the team.  
• Feel free to tell people about your vaccination or help others to get their vaccine, too - you might want to do a post on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or TikTok.

For more information, please click here: Super Saturday: Get vaccinated | Unite against COVID-19 (covid19.govt.nz)

Lockdown competition builds positivity for Lower Hutt trust

Workforce Working Group re-established

The Disability Directorate is extending our engagement to include more disabled people and sector voices in our work.

The Workforce Working Group (WWG) was set up to address some workforce issues relating to the establishment of Mana Whaikaha (the Manawatu-based Enabling Good Lives programme). The WWG was suspended in 2020 with the view that other forums like the Tripartite Group and Mana Whaikaha Governance and Leadership Groups could take on this work.

However, the PSA and E Tū Unions and the Mana Whaikaha Governance Group have requested that this group be re-established with a broader scope, to consider a national implementation of an EGL approach through the Disability System Transformation Programme.

The original WWG was made up of disabled people, union representatives, disability support provider representatives, Te Pou and Ministry of Health officials.

The first meeting of the new WWG was held online in September, and will have an independent facilitator to help establish the Terms of Reference and Charter for how the group will operate.

Key groups we engage with

Te Ao Mārama Group -  Te Ao Mārama is a group of external advisors that supports the implementation of Whāia Te Ao Mārama: The Māori Disability Action Plan, and provides advice to the Ministry on issues that affect Māori with disabilities (tāngata whaikaha Māori).

Faiva Ora Leadership Group - This group is a forum for Pasifika stakeholders to discuss issues affecting Pasifika with disabilities, their family members and aiga, and provide input and advice to resolve these issues.

Whānau Ora Interface Governance Group - The Whānau Ora Interface Group is made up of Māori and Pasifika disabled people and whānau, and Rangatira with expertise in the Whānau Ora approach and Te Tiriti.

Enabling Good Lives Governance Group - A multi-stakeholder partnership process that includes representatives from the disability community and Government officials to oversee the implementation of the EGL approach. Its focus is currently on the three demonstration sites in Waikato, Mana Whaikaha (MidCentral), and Christchurch.

National Enabling Good Lives  - Made up of leaders within the disability community, this group provides overarching direction and oversight of implementation of the EGL approach, while also engaging with Ministers and Government officials.

Disabled People's Organisations Coalition -  The Disabled People’s Organisations Coalition is a group of people who come from different disability organisations to work toward shared goals. It is also referred to as DPO Coalition. Any organisation can review the list of Disabled People’s Organisation Attributes and consider whether their organisation meets the criteria. Organisations in the DPO Coalition review themselves against the attributes annually.

Payment of Individual Rates – Residential Care  

The Disability Directorate has advised of three separate increases to individual rates since February 2021. We are yet to apply these increases to all individual rates for some providers and all clients. We are working with Ministry of Health Sector Operations to resolve this, and to prevent a reoccurrence when we apply any future increases to individual rates. 

The financial impact of the first increase, the 1.0%, has been calculated, backdated to 1 July 2020, and the back payment was paid on 30 June 2021. We have calculated the back payment for the second increase of 2.92%, backdated to 1 July 2020, and payment is likely to be made in the next couple of weeks. 

The third increase of 1.0%, effective from 1 July 2021, is to be made in the next four to six weeks. 

We apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused some providers.. 

New COVID Healthline service for disabled people

A new team has been established within the COVID vaccination healthline, in response to feedback from the disability sector on barriers to accessing vaccination information and booking support.

In its first two weeks, the 30-strong team has supported more than 440 disabled people.

“As part of our plan to give every eligible person the opportunity to get vaccinated by the end of the year, we are ensuring it is both easy and accessible for everyone, including disabled people,” COVID response minister Chris Hipkins said.

To access the team, people can call the free COVID Vaccination Healthline on 0800 28 29 26, between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday, and ‘push 2’ to speak to the team.

The team is made up of dedicated advisors who are either living with disability themselves, have close whānau living with disability or, in a few cases, have extensive experience working with members of the disability community. Advisors work from home across Aotearoa, and recruitment is underway to further expand the workforce.

The team support disabled people and their carers to get information about the vaccine, make bookings (including support identifying suitable sites or liaising with sites to ensure that needs can be met), and supporting transport needs. Transport has been one of the things that has been identified as a barrier to vaccination for many disabled people.

In the first week examples of support being arranged included ensuring sites have mobility assistance in place, arranging NZ Sign Language interpreters, rearranging transport options after initial transport options became unavailable, 1737 counsellors being arranged to support people with anxiety, and other tailored solutions developed for people in conjunction with District Health Boards.

The team is able to support all those that identify as having a disability including: 

• Deaf and hard of hearing
• Blind and low vision
• Physically disability
• Intellectually disability
• Neuro diverse
• Long term health conditions.
• The pathway is a collaboration between WorkBridge, Capital and Coast DHB, and Whakarongorau Aotearoa – New Zealand Telehealth Services.

Free vaccine services for Auckland region

Northern Regional Health Co-ordination Centre (NHRCC) is offering a free taxi service to and from a COVID-19 vaccination centre or drive-through for people having their first dose, who don’t drive or use other forms of transport.

People can register by calling the COVID Vaccination Helpline on 0800 28 29 26 or emailing NRHCCVAXENQUIRIES@adhb.govt.nz. The new service is run in partnership with Auckland’s Co-op (Blue Bubble) Taxis. 

NHRCC is hoping to extend this service to GP and pharmacy providers once they have a better understanding of demand. 

And NHRCC is also providing in-home vaccination services, for those unable to leave home for their COVID-19 vaccination. This can be for either a first or second dose.

To arrange an in-home vaccination, people can call 0800 28 29 26 or email NRHCCVAXENQUIRIES@adhb.govt.nz to register their details. NRHCC will then be in contact to organise an in-home vaccination.

Video about COVID-19 vaccination for disabled people

Disability Connect is sharing their information video about COVID-19 vaccination for disabled people and their families, which has New Zealand Sign Language interpretation.

Disability Connect is a Disability Information Advisory Service (DIAS), which is based in Penrose and operates throughout Auckland.

All you need to know about COVID-19 vaccination for disabled people is a 75-minute video of Disability Connect’s Support Group meeting with Dr Rosie Marks and Dr Marguerite Dalton held in July 2021.  Both Drs Rosie and Marguerite are medical specialists with many years of service to disabled people and their families.

In this presentation they explain the science behind the changing nature of the COVID-19 virus, different vaccines available and the make-up of these vaccines including the one that is being offered to us in New Zealand.

All aspects of vaccination are explored, including safety, with key considerations for disabled people and their families.

The link to the video is here: All you need to know about COVID-19 vaccination for disabled people

The slides from the presentation are available: here

Administration of vaccines

The Ministry of Health has updated its advice on the timing of routine vaccines in relation to the COVID-19 vaccine.

The influenza, MMR, HPV, diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis combination vaccine (Boostrix), and majority of other routine vaccines can now be administered before, after, or at the same time as the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, without concern for the spacing of the vaccinations. The change supports completing a person’s recommended vaccination schedule in the shortest and most effective time frame.

The only exception to this advice is for the live-attenuated shingles vaccine (Zostavax) where a 7-day interval, before or after administering Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, is advised.

The reason for this change in advice is to encourage the uptake of the other vaccines already on the New Zealand Immunisation Schedule.  There are no additional safety concerns associated with co-administration, over and above each vaccine’s individual safety profile. 

The recommended six-week gap between first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccinations remains.

To stay up-to-date

Sign up for the Ministry of Health's COVID-19 Vaccine Newsletter here: COVID-19: Vaccine updates for the health sector | Ministry of Health NZ, or the Unite Against COVID-19 Newsletter here: Social media and newsletters | Unite against COVID-19

In the meantime, you can find more information about vaccines and the rollout of the vaccination programme here: COVID-19 vaccine information sheets | Unite against COVID-19

Health and Disability System Reforms updates

Māori Health Authority and Health New Zealand Board appointments

Health Minister Andrew Little and Associate Health Minister Peeni Henare have announced the appointment of the Boards to lead the Māori Health Authority and Health New Zealand. This a significant step in progressing the Health and Disability System Reform programme.

Rob Campbell has been appointed as the Chair of Health New Zealand. Sharon Shea and Tipa Mahuta have been appointed as Co-Chairs of the Māori Health Authority.

For more information about the Board appointments and the Māori Health Authority and Health New Zealand please see the website here.

Future of Health website – Te Anamata o Te Oranga

At the same time as the Board appointments were being announced, the Futureofhealth.govt.nz website went live. This marked a significant milestone in the Reform programme.

Te Anamata o Te Oranga translates to ‘The Future of wellbeing’. From a Te Ao Māori perspective, the idea of oranga or wellness takes into consideration the holistic wellbeing of people, and the aspirations Māori have for their own health.

Futureofhealth.govt.nz includes:

• background to the health reforms
• news and updates
• information targeted specifically for the health sector workforce
• opportunities to participate and engage in the reform programme. 

The website will be regularly updated with information about the progress being made to create our future health system.

Ministry appoints Establishment Director of the Public Health Agency

Simon Everitt has joined the Ministry of Health as Establishment Director of the interim Public Health Agency. The interim Agency is the first component of the Ministry to be designed as part of the wider health and disability system reforms. 

You can read more on the Ministry’s website.

The Health Equity Assessment Tool: a user’s guide

If you are developing new policies, programmes or services, this is an opportunity to consider how these will affect health equity. Health inequities are the avoidable and unjust differences in the health of groups of people, and particular groups (such as disabled people) are consistently disadvantaged in regard to health.

The Health Equity Assessment Tool: A User’s Guide was developed in Ministry of Health-funded workshops to help the health sector contribute to health equity.  The Guide is designed to enable better use of a tool which examines the potential of health interventions to contribute to reducing health inequalities: the Health Equity Assessment Tool (HEAT).

 HEAT aims to promote equity in health in New Zealand. It consists of a set of 10 questions that enable assessment of policy, programme or services for their current or future impact on health inequalities. The questions cover four stages of policy, programme or service development.

1. Understanding health inequalities

2. Designing interventions to reduce inequalities

3. Reviewing and refining interventions

4. Evaluating the impacts and outcomes of interventions.

The Health Equity Assessment Tool: A User’s Guide is available here

Contact Disability Services

Email: disability@health.govt.nz

Call: 0800 DSD MOH (0800 373 664)

Web: www.health.govt.nz/disability

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