Voices of the Unvaxxed

Nearly 95 per cent of eligible New Zealanders to date have been vaccinated against Covid-19 — meaning that 230,000 teenagers and adults have not had the shot. To learn more about why some people have made the decision not to get vaccinated, and what impact it’s had on their friendships and livelihoods, I spoke with four Kiwis who are forging their own path through this pandemic.

Lya Harding, 28, food merchandiser, Rotorua

I’m mum to a two-year-old and through this pandemic I’ve been busy as a merchandiser for supermarkets. That has come to an end due to the requirement that staff and outside contractors, like myself, be double vaccinated in order to enter the premises.

I live paycheck to paycheck to keep a roof over my family’s head and food on the table. I’ve worked since I was out of high school and have nearly saved enough to afford a house. I’m a workaholic and I can’t stand not