Finding an alternative rongoā 

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Some local residents are reluctant to take the current Covid-19 vaccine because of their health issues while others feel they're being forced to get the vaccination to keep their jobs.

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Murupara Medical Centre took on board their concerns and Dr Conlon told the media in 2021 that he ordered an alternative rongoā (medicine) from overseas to help provide a second option for his communities of Te Ika Whenua to consider. Before his interim suspension, he asked MedSafe to release the rongoā to the Murupara Medical Centre.

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In support of Dr Conlon's plea last year, some local residents picked up their pens and wrote to MedSafe asking the authority to release the medicine.  

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