COVID-19 vaccination rollout in Fiji

The COVID-19 vaccination campaign will resume around the country today after vaccination teams took a break over the weekend.

If you are over 18 and want to be vaccinated, please present your valid photo identification e.g. Joint FNPF/FRCA, driver’s license, passport, student ID or FNPF card to register for vaccination.

If you have registered, please be ready with your registration reference number and valid photo identification.

Online registration is done at vra.digitalfiji.gov.fj/

You will need to get two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine for greater efficacy.

The date for your second dose will be put in the vaccination card after your first dose.

More than 272,354 people have received the first doses of AstraZeneca since the beginning of the vaccination campaign in Fiji and around 38,031 are now fully vaccinated.

This means that 46% of the adults in Fiji have received one dose, and 6.5% have received the second dose.

The target is to get 587,641 Fijians fully vaccinated.

The Australian Government continues to provide support to Fiji as another 70,000 doses of COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccines have arrived in the country.

This brings the total number of Australian vaccine doses flown into the country over the past eight weeks to 320,000.

The support is part of Australia’s commitment to providing one million vaccines to Fiji.

Meanwhile, 46% of adults in Fiji have received one dose, and 6.5% have received their second dose.

This means that 272,354 people have received the first doses since the beginning of the vaccination campaign and 38,031 are now fully vaccinated.

The target is to get 587,641 Fijians fully vaccinated which will ensure that our country moves forward.

Minister for Employment Parveen Bala says COVID-19 vaccination will become mandatory for travel across international borders and it is likely that this will include travel for work which is already the case for the Pacific Mobility Labour Scheme.

He says they have committed to roll out vaccinations with due regard to the rights of all Fijians and at the same time based on sound science and medical advice.

Bala says full vaccination for all Fijians is the scientific and medically proven way towards reopening our villages, towns, cities, workplaces and ultimately our borders so that everyone can exercise their freedom in a new normal.

He adds the current lockdowns and containment areas will not be necessary once all Fijians are vaccinated.

Bala says the Ministry continues to work with all stakeholders to ensure we strive towards a collective work environment that is COVID safe and a Fiji that is fully vaccinated against this terrible disease.

A general practitioner and emergency doctor in Newman, Australia, Dr Qalo Sukabula says if people are not vaccinated and they contract COVID-19, they can get Pneumonia in both lungs with blood poisoning.

Dr Sukabula highlighted this while speaking to Legend FM News from Australia.

He says people need to know that COVID-19 is real and in the worst-case scenarios, these are the things that can happen to a person when the virus overwhelms the immune system.

Dr Sukabula says when a person is in a severe condition, he or she will need a ventilator which is not a good sign at all.

He says the lungs will be inflamed and people can have pleuritic chest pain which is sudden and intense sharp, stabbing, or burning pain in the chest when inhaling and exhaling every breath.

Dr Sukabula stresses that this can be prevented if people get vaccinated.

Dr Sukabula says medical professionals in other counties have been forced to decide who is to be given a ventilator and who will not be given and this is what Fiji does not want.

He says these are some of the decisions that health professionals do not want to make.

Meanwhile Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong says COVID safe behaviour is absolutely necessary to ensure we do not have continued escalation of cases and many more severe cases as Fiji has about 40 ventilators and close to 40 airvos to look after severe COVID patients.

A ventilator is a machine that provides mechanical ventilation by moving breathable air into and out of the lungs, to deliver breaths to a patient who is physically unable to breathe, or breathing insufficiently.

An airvo is a humidifier with integrated flow generator that delivers warmed and humidified respiratory gases to spontaneously breathing patients.

Doctor Fong says we have about 40 ventilators for now.

Doctor Fong says they may have access to other airvos however if severe cases escalate, they will have limited capacity.

Doctor Fong also says as new COVID cases continue to escalate in the Central Division and Nausori, people need to take action and ensure they take all the necessary COVID measures including vaccination as the Health Ministry would not want a worst case scenario where they pull back to the hospitals to look after the increasing severe cases.

He made it clear that with many more cases and more severe cases, things will get very difficult.

Doctor Fong says other countries who have faced this, have had to even pull back on the containment measures in the community.

Doctor Fong says all the severe cases are currently at CWM Hospital.

He says there are 60 positive cases at CWM.

Please follow all the COVID safety guidelines – wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or sanitize, wear a mask, practice 2 metres physical distancing and avoid unnecessary movements.

The Ministry of Health also advises people to get vaccinated when the vaccination teams come to your area.

The Head of Health Protection Dr. Aalisha Sahukhan has today asked all leaders and anyone who has influence over people to do everything they can to encourage the general public to get vaccinated and also abide by the health protocols.

Dr. Sahukhan says with increasing cases, they expect increasing severe disease and deaths.

She says while their hospitals are not overwhelmed with severe cases, this is a real possibility and they are preparing for this.

Dr. Sahukhan also has a message for those that have been fully vaccinated.

Dr. Sahukhan says there have been now 13 deaths due to COVID-19 with 11 during the outbreak which started in April this year. One death is under investigation.

17 people have recovered in the last 24 hours which means there are 2,173 active cases of COVID-19 in isolation.

Fiji has now recorded 2,848 cases of COVID-19 since March, 2020 and we have had 653 recoveries.

Dr. Sahukhan adds since the outbreak started in April this year, they have tested 138,443 people for COVID-19.

She says they tested 2,913 people on Tuesday and there is now a high level of testing.

Our national 7-day average daily test positivity continues to increase and is now at 5.7%.

President Jioji Konrote and Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama got their second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, AstraZeneca today.

Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong says the President and the Prime Minister have encouraged every eligible Fijian to follow their lead in protecting themselves from COVID-19.

He says many others have done the same.

Doctor Fong says it takes two weeks after receiving the second dose of the vaccine for the full benefits of immunity to set in.

He says we are very fortunate to have these vaccines available and on the way.

The target population for vaccinations is just over 586,000 adults and they are aiming to vaccinate as many of those Fijians as possible as quickly as those vaccines arrive.

He says when we have achieved adequate levels of immunity, the Ministry can begin relaxing restrictions and allow for the possibility of international travel to Fiji.

Doctor Fong says until that day, we must practice strict adherence to the health measures like mask-wearing, handwashing, and physical distancing.

He says their work is not done as their mission is to fully vaccinate every eligible Fijian.

Doctor Fong says there are people in intensive care as he speaks due to COVID-19 and the doctors and nurses are going to every possible length to care for them.

He says the more vaccines they administer, the more Fijians we keep out of ICUs and in the arms of the families that love them.

Doctor Fong stresses that morally, medically, vaccines are the right choice for all of us.

More than 1,000 people turned up at All Saints Secondary School and Saint Mary’s Primary School in Labasa today to receive their first and second dose of the COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine.

The Ministry of Health is aiming to vaccinate around 87,271 people in the Northern Division.

They say the positive turnout is indicative of the eagerness of the public to be vaccinated so they can be protected against COVID-19.

A Naivikinikini woman is calling on people to get vaccinated and not to be frightened of different videos that they see on social media.

Frances Qounadovu says the majority of the women in Naivikinikini in Lami had a lot of reservations on whether to get vaccinated because of the videos they watched on different social media platforms.

She believes that there is a lot of information out there now that will enlighten them and take away the doubts that people have.

Qounadovu says she will get vaccinated and encourages others to do the same.

The mother of three says she will be getting vaccinated this Friday when the vaccination team will be in Naivikinikini.

Meanwhile, the women of Naivikinikini have stepped up to play a vital role in combating COVID-19 by manning checkpoints in the day.

Qounadovu says they have decided to do this is to protect their community as there is a growing number of cases in the greater Lami area.

Qounadovu says they have four checkpoints which is manned by women in the day and men in the night.

She says they have stopped all visitors from entering their community.

Qounadovu says they have received some assistance from DIVA for Equality, Sai Prema Foundation, Mama Ashy Projects, Youth Champs for Mental Health, Solo Moms Project and the Lami District Council of Social Services who gave them groceries, masks and sanitizers.

She says they do realize that they play a major role in their community and that is why they are waiting for the Ministry of Health’s vaccination team to get vaccinated.

Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong says the COVID-19 virus is a killer that no Fijian can afford to treat lightly, and we must fully vaccinate all of our adult population as quickly as possible.

Doctor Fong says they know from extensive evidence, including from Public Health England, that vaccines offer excellent protection against hospitalisation and death from the virus, including against the Delta variant present in Fiji.

He says the vaccines they have reserved for every Fijian offer at least 92% protection against hospitalisation, which is remarkable, but the vaccine requires two doses to offer that protection, not one dose.

Doctor Fong says it takes an additional two weeks after the second dose for the full protection from the virus to set in.

He also confirms that of the four confirmed COVID deaths reported yesterday, none were fully vaccinated against the virus.

Three were not vaccinated at all and one had received only one dose of a vaccine.

The Permanent Secretary says this means two doses for every eligible Fijian.

Doctor Fong says if you have already received one dose, please come forward for dose number two.

If you have not had the chance to be vaccinated, he says the Health Ministry will make that opportunity available to you soon.

He says thanks to our diplomatic efforts, and the support of India, Australia and New Zealand, we have enough vaccines on the way for every adult in Fiji.

So far, more than 280,000 Fijians have received at least one dose of a vaccine.

More than 18,000 are already fully-vaccinated.

Doctor Fong says of the nearly 300,000 people which have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, there are zero deaths caused by a COVID-19 vaccine in Fiji.

He says every report of an adverse event has been thoroughly investigated.

The Permanent Secretary says no serious ill effects have been linked to the vaccine. He says that is in line with the global data that shows the risk of such an adverse event is extremely low.

Of the 2,479 cases detected in this outbreak, 11 Fijians have died from the virus.

Doctor Fong asks everyone to please do the math.

He says this virus is a killer, the risk that it claims more lives is huge.

The Permanent Secretary says in contrast, vaccines offer us huge protection and we need that protection urgently.

18,000 individuals are now fully-vaccinated in Fiji.

Permanent Secretary for Health Doctor James Fong says 44% of our target population which is 256,117 individuals have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

He says in total, they have deployed 274,124 doses.

The target is to get 587,641 Fijians fully vaccinated.

You can check out our website fijivillage for the list of vaccinations sites today.

The COVID-19 vaccination drive will continue at the Sai Sanjeevani Medical Centre in Nasese today for people living in Muanikau, Ratu Sukuna Road, Domain, Nasese, Nasova and Veiuto.

More than 750 people were vaccinated at the centre yesterday.

A team from the Ministry of Health, RFMF and the Fiji Police Force are present to ensure all COVID safety guidelines are adhered to.

The vaccination drive at the centre will end tomorrow.

People can go and get vaccinated from 9am to 4pm.

The Fiji Airways men’s and women’s national 7s teams are urging all Fijians to take time out and get vaccinated to help the Fijian Government and the Ministry of Health fight against the deadly COVID-19 virus.

Players plus the management received their second jab of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine yesterday at their hotel in Brisbane ahead of the PacificAus Sports Oceania 7s this Friday.

Fiji Rugby CEO John O’Connor thanked the Queensland Government and the Health Department for assisting the team in getting their second jab.

Coach Gareth Baber says after undergoing six COVID-19 negative tests it was important for them to be fully vaccinated.

The Fiji men’s 7s team will return to action after more than a year when we take on Australia at 4pm this Friday in the Oceania 7’s.

Fiji will then face Oceania 7s team at 9.30pm on the same day.

The national side has two more games on Saturday where they take on the All Blacks 7s team at 4.22pm and Australia at 9.30pm.

Fiji has two games on Sunday as well.

They take on Oceania 7s team at 2.30pm and New Zealand at 8.07pm.

There are six rounds of matches in the Oceania 7s where each team will play each other twice.

The highest-ranked team after six matches will be declared the winner.

Fiji last played in an international tournament in last year’s Vancouver 7s in March where they were beaten by New Zealand in the quarterfinal.

50,000 more doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine as part of support from the Australian government has been delivered to Fiji.

The Health Ministry says with the arrival of more vaccines, they will not only ramp up their rollout on Viti Levu but also recommence in the Northern and Eastern Divisions.

Vaccination teams will be out again tomorrow in parts of the country.

The Health Ministry stresses that it will continue to administer the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines as the World Health Organization’s recommendations for the vaccine remains the same.

In a joint statement with the WHO, the Health Ministry says the WHO still recommends the AstraZeneca vaccines for individuals aged 18 years and over.

The Health Ministry stresses that to date, no confirmed cases of serious adverse events following immunization have been detected in Fiji despite 256,018 individuals being given one dose and 17990 individuals having had two doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

It says it is also important to remember that serious adverse events following immunization with the AstraZeneca vaccine remain rare events.

The joint statement says these vaccines have undergone the strictest safety and quality control trials and have reached the exacting standards of safety, purity, and effectiveness.

According to the Ministry, vaccination teams and clinicians have been well trained and have the resources on hand to treat individuals if such rare incidents do occur.

It further says COVID-19 vaccination remains one of our most effective measures in response to the current COVID-19 outbreak, significantly reducing a person’s risk of being infected, seriously ill, hospitalized or dying from COVID-19.

The Ministry and the WHO say the benefits of vaccines are clear.

They say as they see from other countries around the world, like Israel and the United States, who have vaccinated high proportions of their population that they have significantly reduced the number of hospitalized patients and slowed the spread of COVID-19.

This has also allowed them to relax some of their containment measures.

The WHO says Fiji, alongside 22 other countries globally, has successfully and safely administered over 2 billion doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to people aged 18 years and older.

The Health Ministry says mitigating the effects of the outbreak, including preventing more people from getting the severe disease and dying, will depend on our ability to get as many people vaccinated as possible, and as quickly as possible.

It adds given the current community transmission and COVID-19 variant, all unvaccinated individuals are at risk from the virus.

They add recent events in Fiji and many other countries have shown us how quickly outbreaks can spread despite intensive contact tracing and public health action.

The joint statement by the WHO and Health Ministry says they are aware that Australia recently announced changes to their age recommendations for their national distribution of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines following a rare but serious adverse event following immunization.

They say decisions such as this are being undertaken by national governments on a basis of various considerations, including weighing up the various risks.

The statement says this being what is the risk of a person being infected and becoming seriously ill from COVID-19, compared to the risk of suffering a rare, but severe side effect from the vaccine.

According to the WHO and the Health Ministry, it is clear that in the Fiji context, case numbers are escalating daily and the risk of being infected with COVID-19 and getting a severe disease and dying in Fiji is much higher than in Australia because we have community transmission in the Lami-Nausori area and in the West.

They stress that Australia’s decision does not change the approach for us here in Fiji

Head of the Vaccination Taskforce of the Health Ministry, Doctor Rachel Devi says Fiji is exploring the options on which COVID-19 vaccine will be approved for children by the World Health Organization as COVID-19 has also affected some children in the country.

While speaking during the Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan Show, Doctor Devi says they are assessing all options after Pfizer announced the use of the vaccine for children from 12 years.

She says supply for Pfizer remains an issue.

43 percent of Fijians have received their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine while 2.1 percent of the target population are fully vaccinated.

Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong says this means 252,791 people have received at least one dose and 12,246 people are fully vaccinated.

He says in the first four days of this week, they have administered 14,425 first doses and 6,752 second doses.

In the Central Division, 9,897 people received their first dose this week and 3,904 people have received their second dose.

In the Western Division this week, 4,592 people received their first dose and 2,767 received their second.

He says they encourage all Fijians to arrange to get vaccinated as soon as you can.

Head of the Vaccination Taskforce, Doctor Rachel Devi says based on the availability of the AstraZeneca doses, they are aiming to get almost 70% of the target population fully vaccinated by September or October this year.

She says this would mean 410,655 people would be fully vaccinated.

The target population is 586,651.

The 59,000 people who are due for their second jab of the AstraZeneca vaccine can visit any of the vaccination centres open near their area to get the shot.

While speaking on the Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan program, Head of the Vaccination Taskforce of the Health Ministry, Doctor Rachel Devi says she has already briefed all the vaccination officials to ensure that they get people in for the second jabs.

Doctor Devi says people can contact the Ministry of Health if any vaccination centre is turning them away from taking the second jab.

She confirms that after studies done that AstraZenaca now has 92 percent efficacy after the second jab, they have also got the latest findings that the second jab can be administered after the 8th week from the first dose.

59,000 people are due to get the second jabs this week and next week, which will see the number of fully vaccinated people in the country rising further.

Doctor Devi also says it is clear in other countries like the UK and even India that with the increasing number of people getting vaccinated, the number of cases, severe cases and deaths start to decline.

For those who are still confused on whether they should get vaccinated, please check credible information and ensure that you get the layer of protection to help yourself and others, including the frontliners and the country as a whole.

You can watch the full Straight Talk interview on our website and facebook page, fijivillage.

The Health Ministry has started administering the second dose of COVID-19 vaccines from the available vaccination sites across the country.

It says individuals who received the first dose of the AstraZeneca Covishield vaccine from 5th to 16th April 2021 and are due to receive the second dose between 7th June to 25th June 2021 can go to the nearest vaccination sites.

You should check your COVID-19 vaccine card to find out the date of the first and second dose.

The Health Ministry stresses that people who have not completed their interval period of 8-12 weeks since they received their first dose, must wait to do so.

For the second dose, you can go to your nearest vaccination site to get the jab.

The Ministry stresses that it is not compulsory that you receive the second dose from the same vaccination site where you received your first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

42 percent of Fijians aged 18 years and over have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine so far.

Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong says they are making extremely efficient use of the vaccines we have received, and they thank the more than 246,000 people in Fiji who have come forward to be vaccinated.

An additional 70,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines will arrive in Fiji from Australia over the next week.

Doctor Fong says the arrival of these vaccines will bring Australia’s total vaccine contribution to Fiji to 250,000 doses out of the one million pledged to Fiji.

He says Fiji is grateful that the commitment to deliver 40,000 vaccines per month has been exceeded.

Doctor Fong says Australia’s commitment, as well as that of New Zealand, has helped us reserve the full dosage of COVID-19 vaccines for every eligible Fijian.

He says they are grateful for the expedited commitment of the Australian and New Zealand governments as we contend with this surge in new local cases.

Doctor Fong says Fiji is also grateful to the Indian Government for its initial contribution to 100,000 COVID-19 vaccines.

He says this week, several US states, including New York and California, have lifted most COVID restrictions.

Doctor Fong says they were able to do so because they have immunised enough of their populations against COVID-19.

He says Fiji’s road to recovery will look much the same.

Doctor Fong says his teams are committed to continuing vaccinating our population and protecting Fijians from this deadly disease.

According to a recent study by Public Health England, after both doses, the AstraZeneca vaccine is 92% successful at preventing hospitalization from the Delta variant of COVID-19 present in Fiji.

The Permanent Secretary is asking those who have received one dose to make sure they receive dose number two, and they encourage every eligible Fijian awaiting their first dose to seize this opportunity to protect themselves.

Meanwhile, he says the majority of new COVID cases continue to be confirmed within known clusters in areas already under a lockdown or are individuals under home quarantine.

However, he says new clusters in new locations do pose a serious risk of wider transmission.

Doctor Fong says they are prepared to mitigate the impact of a larger number of daily case totals and have contingency plans in place to care for patients who develop severe cases of the virus.

But he says it should be noted that this case surge is not inevitable.

Doctor Fong says widespread public adherence to the health protection measures in force can limit or stop the spread of COVID-19 entirely and lessen the growing burden on our frontline health officials.

He says essential movement, when managed in a COVID-safe manner, can occur without moving the virus and without putting you, your loved ones, and your community members at high risk of becoming infected.

Meanwhile, a number of personalities and staff of Communications Fiji Limited, parent company of Legend FM, FM96, Viti FM, Navtarang, Radio Sargam and fijivillage got their second doses yesterday.

Please get vaccinated and help the country move forward.

41% of the target population of Fiji aged 18 years and over have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, AstraZeneca so far.

Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong says this brings the total number of vaccinations conducted to date to 242,721 first doses and 6,224 second doses into the arms of Fijians.

The target is to get 587,641 Fijians fully vaccinated.

Yesterday a total of 4,355 first doses and 730 second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were administered nationally.

Meanwhile a number of personalities and staff of Communications Fiji Limited, parent company of Legend FM, FM96, Viti FM, Navtarang, Radio Sargam and fijivillage got their second doses today.

Please get vaccinated and help the country move forward.

The Medical Administrator in Melbourne Australia, Dr Qalo Sukabula is calling on people who have relatives who are at high risk or have existing medical conditions to get vaccinated.

Doctor Sukabula highlighted this while speaking on the Bula Ko Lau facebook live iTaukei language session.

He says these are people who have high blood pressure, heart problems, asthma and diabetes.

Doctor Sukabula says these are people who are questioning whether to get vaccinated or not and there is some sort of hesitation.

He says they should be the first ones to get vaccinated as they can be severely affected or even die if they have COVID-19.

Dr Sukabula says it has been scientifically proven that the vaccines being used to counter the COVID-19 virus is working.

He says this is based on the Journal of the American Medical Association that was reported in March this year.

Dr Sukabula says from the investigative study that was done from the 1st of January, 2020 to the 21st of August 2020, 3.2 million Americans were tested using blood testing to determine how many had the virus.

He says from the 3.2 million people tested, around 378,000 tested positive and after the first month, those that tested positive were tested again and the result showed that only 11.3 percent of that number still had the virus.

He adds another test was conducted in the second and third month and the number reduced from 11.3 percent to 0.3 percent.

The Medical Administrator says this shows the antibodies in our body is fighting the virus, the memory cells of our immune system knows that the COVID virus is the enemy and the vaccine is working.

Dr Sukabula says this report is been used by many scientific communities around the world as their baseline to show that the vaccines being used is working.

He says many people will know that the US has been badly hit with the pandemic and they have a lot of data and information and also have done many investigations and scientific studies about vaccines and the virus.

The Permanent Secretary for Health Dr James Fong has highlighted that they are careful of the quality control for vaccines and if one batch does not look good or breaches their cold chain parameters, it is entirely removed from their stock.

Dr Fong has highlighted this while responding to a question whether the Health Ministry is confident enough that the vaccines will still be effective as more variants are becoming more prevalent nowadays.

He says when looking at countries that are more equipped to administer the vaccines accurately, it is an illustration of the potential of the vaccine.

Dr Fong says he is confident that our cold chain is up to the max in regards to Fiji because we have a long history of using that same cold chain for vaccines.

The COVID-19 vaccination campaign starts in Lami today.

Health Ministry teams will be at Tikaram Park in Lami from 9 o'clock this morning.

They will be there until 4 o'clock this afternoon.

This is for the first dose of the vaccine.

Vaccination is only available to the people living in the listed areas today and people from other areas and communities should wait for the vaccination team to visit their area.

If you are over 18 and want to be vaccinated, please present your valid photo identification e.g. Joint FNPF/FRCA, driver’s license, passport, student ID or FNPF card to register for vaccination.

If you have registered, please be ready with your registration reference number and valid photo identification.

You will need to get two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The date for your second dose will be put in the vaccination card after your first dose.

You can go to https://vra.digitalfiji.gov.fj/ and register. Keep the registration reference number safely.

Tikaram Park vaccination site, Lami at 9am today. [image: Alex Elbourne/LegendFM]

If you are not vaccinated, you are not safe.

This has been stressed by TISI Sangam President Sadasivan Naicker who says people should not believe in the false rumours regarding the COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine.

Naicker says he knows some people who are against the vaccine due to religious beliefs but they firmly believe that everyone should get vaccinated.

He says this is what they have been telling their members and adds most of the district and national executives have received the first jab of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Naicker says with rapid rise in cases on a daily bases now, the vaccine is the only thing that could keep people safe.

He says despite majority of the COVID-19 cases being in the Central Division, people are still moving around and it is the responsibility of an individual to keep them and their families safe.

The President of the Shree Sanatan Dharm Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji, Sarju Prasad is urging people to get vaccinated because that is the only saviour and our best chance of returning to normalcy.

Prasad says it is the responsibility of every Fijian to look after their safety and the welfare of their loved ones.

He says there is nothing contrary to their religion in getting vaccinated and Sanatan Dharm itself believes in scientific research based on righteousness and facts.

Prasad says it is very unfortunate that some people are spreading rumours and people should not listen to the ones who are telling them not to get vaccinated.

He says he is surprised that people still have doubts about the AstraZeneca vaccine because it has been approved by the World Health Organization.

He is urging people to refrain from spreading misinformation and encourage their family members to get vaccinated.

Prasad says the Sanatan Dharm is not against vaccination or the use of any drug for the purpose of giving life to people.

He adds immunizing yourself against this pandemic will let us all have a good life and freedom of movement and those who have difficulties should discuss it with their doctors and priests or anybody who is educated in this area.

Leaders of the Methodist Church in Fiji including the President Reverend Ili Vunisuwai and General Secretary of the Church Reverend Iliesa Naivalu received their first jab of the AstraZeneca vaccine in Suva today.

Speaking after getting vaccinated, Reverend Vunisuwai says he knows that there is a lot of hesitation out there in getting vaccinated and he calls on people to get the jab as it is our social obligation.

He says he believes that the Ministry of Health has given all the information that we need to assure us that the vaccine is safe.

Reverend Vunisuwai says he trusts the health officials and he knows that getting vaccinated will also help our economy apart from giving people the protection that they need.

The President of the Methodist Church is also calling on people and especially the Methodist congregation to get vaccinated as this is the only way forward from this virus.

The Head of the Vaccination Taskforce of the Health Ministry, Doctor Rachel Devi is encouraging all adults over 18 years to get the COVID-19 vaccine, AstraZeneca to ensure there is a lower risk for children to get the virus.

While speaking on our Straight Talk program, Doctor Devi says we should not be selfish and think of others around us who can be adversely affected during these trying times if we as adults do not choose to get vaccinated.

Doctor Devi says the COVID-19 vaccine that is being received by Fijians has undergone numerous tests and studies, and it has been developed by many great scientists.

She says it took a shorter time to develop the vaccine because the whole world was working together to get the COVID-19 vaccines out to protect the people.

Australia has so far provided Fiji with 180,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines in the past 5 weeks.

This is part of the 1 million vaccines that Australia has pledged to provide Fiji.

Australian High Commissioner to Fiji John Feakes says Fiji is not alone as Australia stands with Fiji in good and bad times.

Feakes has also thanked the front-line workers who are helping in the fight to stop the spread of COVID-19.

As of yesterday, 228,030 people in Fiji have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Head of the Vaccination Taskforce of the Health Ministry, Doctor Rachel Devi says the COVID-19 vaccine, AstraZeneca that is being received by Fijians has undergone numerous tests and studies, and it has been developed by many great scientists.

Doctor Devi says it took a shorter time to develop the vaccine because the whole world was working together to get the COVID-19 vaccines out to protect the people.

While speaking on our Straight Talk program, Doctor Devi says this is not a vaccine that is being tried on Fijians as Fiji would never allow that to happen.

Doctor Devi says people should also go with the evidence where the risk of severe conditions and deaths will be reduced when people are fully vaccinated with AstraZeneca.

You can also check out Doctor Devi’s interview on Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan on our fijivillage facebook page at 8am tomorrow (Friday).

220,437 people in the country have received their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, AstraZeneca while 4,773 have received their second doses.

While speaking on our Straight Talk program on COVID-19, Head of the Vaccination Taskforce at the Health Ministry, Doctor Rachel Devi says they continue to take the vaccines to the people in different areas and they will cover more areas this week.

She says vaccine teams in Nadi and Suva have been cleared and they will also continue with the vaccination rollout soon.

Doctor Devi says you can contact the Health Ministry if you have any queries on the vaccine.

People in the greater Nadera, Nadawa and Laqere areas are still turning-up to get vaccinated today.

It is the third day of the vaccine rollout in these areas this week.

We saw people following the COVID-safe protocols such as wearing a mask and social distancing while lining up at the United Apparel Fiji Limited factory in Nadawa and Laqere Market.

Vaccination sites are open till 4.30 this afternoon.

This is for the first dose of the vaccine.

Vaccination is only available to the people living in the listed areas today and people from other areas and communities should wait for the vaccination team to visit their area.

If you are over 18 and want to be vaccinated, please present your valid photo identification e.g. Joint FNPF/FRCA, driver’s license, passport, student ID or FNPF card to register for vaccination.

If you have registered, please be ready with your registration reference number and valid photo identification.

You will need to get two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The date for your second dose will be put in the vaccination card after your first dose.

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says vaccination is an opportunity in the midst of this crisis, do not hold back and grab it.

He says recently, a video went viral in which a pretender argued against the vaccine.

Bainimarama adds while it goes without saying that the Police are onto her for the lies propagated in that video, he wants to tell you, do not fear.

The Prime Minister says no amount of her lies will change the truth that the vaccine is effective.

He adds that the woman has nothing to show for her claims and she will soon be made to answer.

Bainimarama further says COVID-19’s hold over Fiji will dissipate.

He adds it will weaken and the light at the end of the tunnel will glow brighter and brighter.

The Prime Minister says let us recall together that light broke through some of the darkest moments in the history of our country because we Fijians stood united.

He adds even in the division, we conquered. Bainimarama says we chose to look on the brighter side despite the challenges, despite the crisis, despite the chaos that had gripped our country in times past.

He says we chose to believe that in the midst of every crisis lies great opportunities.

Bainimarama adds he mentioned last week that he will not be bullied by fear and nothing has changed.

He says he will continue to stand firm and he is confident that he will not be denied his salvation from this crisis.

The Prime Minister says you will not be denied your salvation and Fiji will not be denied its salvation from COVID-19.

Bainimarama adds he says this because we – Fiji – have mastered difficulties before.

He says we mastered those difficulties and we won opportunities.

Bainimarama says some point fingers at our frontliners and disciplined forces.

He says some have questioned their decision to lift movements around Fiji, even though they will all be done under very strict COVID-safe protocols.

The Prime Minister says some have questioned the efficacy of the vaccine.

He says those people see difficulties in every opportunity to set us free.

Bainimarama adds he sees opportunity in every difficulty.

The Prime Minister adds when the outbreak this year started, they were swift to advise villages to implement lockdown measures, including no maritime movements.

He says given this opportunity, 12 yaqona farmers from Koro partnered with Taki Mai which earned them $34,056. Bainimarama says in the midst of COVID-19, they saw an opportunity to earn.

He says they were visionary, they had the foresight, they had a positive attitude and more importantly, they believed.

The Prime Minister stresses that we can grab that same attitude instead of limiting ourselves to others’ views and comments.

A new daily record of COVID-19 cases has been announced as 94 new cases have been confirmed.

Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong confirms 28 cases are from the CWM Hospital cluster, 8 from the Nawaka, Nadi cluster, 5 from the Navy cluster, 14 from the Navosai cluster, 26 from the Waila cluster, 9 from the Health Ministry’s Incident Management Team cluster, 3 from the RFMF cluster and 1 from the Caubati cluster.

2 cases that tested positive after presenting to Valelevu Health Centre are included in the CWM Hospital cluster as they had recently been discharged from the hospital.

Please note a cluster does not mean that all the cases are at CWM Hospital.

It means the source of the virus is from that cluster.

The Valelevu Health Centre is temporarily closed for decontamination.

Doctor Fong says a person who was admitted in the CWM Hospital’s Acute Medical Ward, died yesterday morning as a result of the medical condition for which he was initially admitted.

He says while the individual did test positive for COVID-19 during his admission at the hospital, they have not classified this as a COVID death based on the assessment of his doctors, who have determined that he died due to complications of his chronic medical condition.

The Ministry expresses their condolences to his family.

4 patients have recovered, which means there are now 604 active cases in isolation.

There have been 775 cases during the current outbreak that started in April 2021.

Fiji has recorded a total of 845 cases in Fiji since the first case was reported in March 2020.

We have had 234 recoveries, and 4 deaths due to COVID-19.

A total of 88,784 samples have been tested since this outbreak started in April 2021, with 129,205 tested since testing began in early 2020.

Australia has so far provided Fiji with 130,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines.

This is after 10,000 additional doses arrived last night.

The Australian government has pledged to provide Fiji with 1 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccines.

Last night, Australia also provided COVID-19 testing kits for Fiji.

The 500,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines provided by New Zealand is expected to arrive within the next three months.

New Zealand will also be donating around $3 million to support vaccine preparedness and rollout.

This was highlighted by the New Zealand Minister of State for Trade and Export Growth Phil Twyford during the NZ-Fiji Business Council Meeting.

Twyford says in the last few weeks New Zealand has provided emergency assistance worth over NZ$500,000 to support Fiji in containing the immediate effects of the outbreak.

The New Zealand Government has also offered a grant contribution of approximately $60 million in budget support and Twyford says they are well aware that more must be done to support Fiji.

He adds as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has indicated, they will be in a position to begin conversations with other Pacific neighbours including Fiji on quarantine-free travel arrangements when the time is right.

Twyford says whatever the timeframe for reopening, their priority will always be keeping the New Zealand and Pacific people safe.

The Health Ministry says they have administered 136,247 AstraZeneca doses so far.

Permanent Secretary, Doctor James Fong says they have administered 36,885 vaccinations from 24th to 29th May – 33,077 first doses and 3,808 second doses.

He says the new shipment of vaccines have arrived in the country and they will be continuing the vaccination programme this week.

Once this new batch of vaccines is used up, Doctor Fong says they will have given the first dose of the vaccine to 260,000 people in Fiji in total.

The Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has highlighted if people do not get vaccinated, the economy will not reopen, people cannot go back to work or their businesses and resume life as normal.

Bainimarama says they will roll out a large vaccination drive in the Nadi-Lautoka Zone starting on Monday.

He says the Ministry of Health will also carry out a large screening and swabbing exercise within the one Nadi-Lautoka Containment Zone in the next 7-days.

The Prime Minister adds he knows that life has not been easy and many people understand the necessity of what needs to be done.

He is urging all Fijians to get registered and vaccinated so that they can protect themselves and their families.

19,348 people have been vaccinated in the Suva-Nausori corridor and 24,042 in all of Fiji since Monday.

Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong says to date, 18.5 percent of the targeted population have received at least one dose, and 3,117 individuals have had 2 doses.

Doctor Fong says an additional 50,000 AstraZeneca doses are due to arrive in the country by the end of the week.

He says once these doses are deployed, at least 260,000 people will have got their first dose.

The COVID-19 vaccination campaign in the Suva and Nausori Containment Zones will continue today.

It will start at 9am and finish at 4.30pm.

This is for the first dose of the vaccine.

Please note that vaccination is only available to the people living in the listed area today.

People from other areas and communities should wait for the vaccination team to visit their area.

The Health Ministry says it will give prior notice through the district advisory councilors, village headmen and community health workers before they visit your area.

Wear a mask, wash your hands or sanitize before and after being vaccinated, maintain safe physical distancing of 2 metres from another person and do not get into close contact with anyone while waiting to be vaccinated.

Those who are above 18 years of age and wish to be vaccinated, please present your valid photo identification e.g. Joint FNPF/FRCA, driver’s license, passport, student ID or FNPF card to register for vaccination.

If you have registered, please be ready with your registration reference number and valid photo identification.

Those who are living within the allocated area for vaccination but have to go to work out of the area can be vaccinated next time. Those who are working within the areas of vaccination sites can get vaccinated.

Please note you need to get two doses of AstraZeneca for greater efficacy.

The date for your second dose will be put in the vaccination card after your first dose.

Residents in the greater Nasinu and Nausori areas turned up in numbers at active COVID vaccination stations yesterday.

The Health Ministry says it recorded a high uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Kinoya resident Nasoni Vono says the long queue and the wait was worth it.

He says getting the jab is not a bad thing as some were saying and this is actually the beginning of good things to come as a vaccinated nation will open doors and allow for free travel.

Officials were on hand to ensure persons with disabilities and individuals with issues such as diabetes, hypertension, heart conditions, asthma and medical conditions were served as soon as they reached each vaccination station.

Daniele Tavere of Nakasi says diabetic patients like him are grateful for the quick service.

He says people should come out and get their jab as it will also ease the burden on the officials who are already stretched out as it is.

All eligible family members of Ashneil Prasad’s household also received their first jab yesterday.

Prasad, his sister and mother were among the many residents of Lakena No.2 Hill in Nausori who received their jab.

Huge crowds of people turned up at various COVID-19 vaccination locations in Suva this morning which included Wainitarawau Road in Cunningham, Kinoya Methodist Church and Kinoya Village Hall.

In Wainitarawau Settlement, some people were seen standing in groups in long lines while others are crowded up in a tent not maintaining the 2 metres physical distancing.

Police officers and soldiers are also seen telling people to follow the COVID-19 protocols.

Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong stresses that people should not line up and crowd at the vaccination site or in front of the mobile buses.

Doctor Fong says the mobile team will be visiting and vaccinating households having home-bound individuals due to illness or old age and are known to the Ministry of Health.

Please stay at your home and wait for your turn when your family is called by the mobile teams from the road.

Police Spokesperson Savaira Tabua says police officers have been at the vaccination sites from when it started this morning and despite informing people to follow protocols, some still came in crowds and not adhering.

She says they have stepped up operations in these areas.

Planned mobile mass COVID-19 vaccinations started in parts of the Suva Nausori Containment Zones from this morning and people are requested to stay at their homes until mobile health officials call out from the road for you to either go to a nearby mobile vaccination site or to the mobile bus to get vaccinated.

This is for the first dose of the vaccine.

Planned mobile mass COVID-19 vaccinations start in parts of the Suva Nausori Containment Zones from this morning and people are requested to stay at their homes until mobile health officials call out from the road for you to either go to a nearby mobile vaccination site or to the mobile bus to get vaccinated.

This is for the first dose of the vaccine.

Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong stresses that people should not line up and crowd at the vaccination site or in front of the mobile bus.

He says there will be many mobile buses doing vaccination in the listed areas from today.

Please stay at your home and wait for your turn when your family is called by the mobile teams from the road.

Vaccination is only available to the people living in the listed areas today.

Doctor Fong says the mobile team will be visiting and vaccinating households having home-bound individuals due to illness or old age and are known to the Ministry of Health.

For today’s vaccinations, there will be area visits by mobile buses from 8am to 5pm in the Greater Suva Area, vaccination at Wailea Settlement and Vusavusa Housing will be at the community hall with the mobile bus from 9am to 5pm, Cunningham Stage 1 Wainimako Hall from 9am to 5pm, Wainitarawau Road at the mobile bus and tent from 9am to 5pm, and Nakasi area – Salim Street, Wailai Street, Chadwick Road, Nakasi Road up to Naulu Junction at Chadwick Mandir Street Hall from 9am to 5pm.

For the areas in Rewa, there will be mobile vaccination buses for the Greater Nausori Area from 9am to 4pm.

Other area visits for first dose vaccination will be Lakena Hill No 2, Nausori Village, Vunivivi Hill, Manoca area, Raralevu Village, Vusuya Village, and Waituri.

Wear a mask; wash your hands or sanitize before and after being vaccinated; maintain safe physical distancing of 2 metres from another person; and do not get into close contact with anyone while waiting to be vaccinated.

Those who are above 18 years of age and wish to be vaccinated, please present your valid photo identification e.g. Joint FNPF/FRCA, driver’s license, passport, student ID or FNPF card to register for vaccination.

If you have registered, please be ready with your registration reference number and valid photo identification.

Those who are living within the allocated area for vaccination but have to go to work out of the area can be vaccinated next time. Those who are working within the areas of vaccination sites can get vaccinated.

Please note you need to get two doses of AstraZeneca for greater efficacy.

The date for your second dose will be put in the vaccination card after your first dose.

The Health Ministry will conduct a massive vaccination drive beginning today throughout the Central Division for all persons 18 and older who have not yet received their first dose.

The Ministry says they have arranged for vaccination centres at well-known fixed locations and will also deploy mobile vaccination teams in some areas.

They add vaccination sites, times and any special information will be published every day on the Fijian Government Facebook page.

The Health Ministry says transmission is concentrated in the Central Division at this time, in the Suva-Nausori Containment Area, and that is where they are focusing their attention, personnel and resources.

One more person has recovered from COVID-19 while Fiji currently has 86 active cases, with 224 cases recorded in total since our first case in March 2020.

All active cases are stable.

20,000 more AstraZeneca vaccines arrived in the country from Australia last night.

Australia’s High Commissioner to Fiji John Feakes said on Twitter that this is to further support the Health Ministry's fight against COVID-19 in the country.

A PCR testing machine to help ramp up the testing efforts across the country arrived last night.

Earlier this month, the Australian government also donated 10,000 vaccines through the Vuvale partnership.

Approximately 86,000 AstraZeneca doses are expected to arrive in the country by the end of the week through the COVAX facility and Australia and New Zealand.

The Health Ministry is planning to take vaccines to Fijians through mobile units and drive-through vaccination sites.

The locations of the mobile vaccination teams will be announced early next week.

The Health Ministry’s priority will be to provide first-dose to the rest of the frontline workers including those who have a high level of public contact in their employment such as taxi and bus drivers and those working in supermarkets; Fijians living in densely populated areas; and to individuals who are particularly vulnerable because of age, compromised immunity and certain chronic illnesses.

Fiji will have approximately 86,000 AstraZeneca doses by the end of the week through the COVAX facility and Australia and New Zealand.

Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong reveals the vaccination plan includes taking vaccines to Fijians through mobile units.

He says this will ensure that all Fijians will be able to access the vaccine without having to travel far or wait too long in queues.

For further convenience to members of the public, they will also have drive-through vaccination sites.

The locations of the mobile vaccination teams will be announced early next week.

He says their priority will be to provide first-dose to the rest of the frontline workers including those who have a high level of public contact in their employment such as taxi and bus drivers and those working in supermarkets; Fijians living in densely populated areas; and to individuals who are particularly vulnerable because of age, compromised immunity and certain chronic illnesses.

Doctor Fong says they will also complete the vaccination process for those who have already received their first dose.

Fiji will have approximately 86,000 AstraZeneca doses by the end of the week through the COVAX facility and Australia and New Zealand.

Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong reveals the vaccination plan includes taking vaccines to Fijians through mobile units.

He says this will ensure that all Fijians will be able to access the vaccine without having to travel far or wait too long in queues.

For further convenience to members of the public, they will also have drive-through vaccination sites.

The locations of the mobile vaccination teams will be announced early next week.

He says their priority will be to provide first-dose to the rest of the frontline workers including those who have a high level of public contact in their employment such as taxi and bus drivers and those working in supermarkets; Fijians living in densely populated areas; and to individuals who are particularly vulnerable because of age, compromised immunity and certain chronic illnesses.

Doctor Fong says they will also complete the vaccination process for those who have already received their first dose.

The Health Ministry has now taken the next step to fully vaccinate the frontliners for COVID-19.

The second jabs are now being administered on the health workers.

Permanent Secretary for Health Doctor James Fong says they want people that have got the first dose to get maximum protection by ensuring that the interval between the two doses is 8 to 12 weeks.

Meanwhile more doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, AstraZeneca are on their way to Fiji as the Australian government has committed to giving 1 million vaccines while the New Zealand government will give half a million vaccines.

Health Minister Doctor Ifereimi Waqainabete had earlier stated that Fiji is targeting to get 1.2 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine as they aim to vaccinate 600,000 people in the country.

During a meeting with Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, the Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison committed to providing 1 million vaccines and Australia will provide the delivery timetable to Fiji in the next couple of weeks.

The Australian High Commissioner to Fiji, John Feakes says with the combined AstraZeneca vaccines donated by Australia and New Zealand, it will be able to cover the entire eligible population in Fiji.

The Ministry of Health says given the COVID-19 status quo and the need to take extreme caution against the rapidly spreading COVID-19 disease, a strategic vaccination roll-out plan is being formulated for Viti Levu.

At this stage the Ministry of Health’s priority is to vaccinate the high-risk population which include the frontline workers, persons with disability, people over 60 years of age and people with comorbidity issues as they are easily susceptible to the disease.

More doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, AstraZeneca are on their way to Fiji as the Australian government has committed to giving 1 million vaccines while the New Zealand government will give half a million vaccines.

Health Minister, Doctor Ifereimi Waqainabete had earlier stated that Fiji is targeting to get 1.2 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine as they aim to vaccinate 600,000 people in the country.

During a meeting with Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama, the Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison committed to providing 1 million vaccines and Australia will provide the delivery timetable to Fiji in the next couple of weeks.

Bainimarama has conveyed his appreciation to Morrison for Australia’s unprecedented commitment and support to Fiji's response and recovery from COVID-19.

Australia has also supported Fiji through direct budget support totalling AUD 35 million (approximately FJD55 million).

The Australian High Commissioner to Fiji, John Feakes says with the combined AstraZeneca vaccines donated by Australia and New Zealand, it will be able to cover the entire eligible population in Fiji.

Feakes says the officials in Canberra are working on the details of delivery.

Fiji received 10,000 doses of Australian-manufactured AstraZeneca vaccine last week and another 10,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine from Australia arrived on Friday.

Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong says the vaccines from New Zealand are expected to arrive in the third quarter of this year.

Australia has already started sending 10,000 doses a month.

The Ministry of Health says given the COVID-19 status quo and the need to take extreme caution against the rapidly spreading COVID-19 disease, a strategic vaccination roll-out plan is being formulated for Viti Levu.

They say the COVID-19 vaccination drive for the target population has concluded in Taveuni, Savusavu and Macuata in Vanua Levu.

The Health Ministry will advise the public as more vaccines are rolled-out around the country and will make necessary announcements once it is safe to do so.

They say for now, the public is urged to follow all national COVID-19 safe protocols that are in place to control the outbreak.

At this stage the Ministry of Health’s priority is to vaccinate the high risk population which include the frontline workers, persons with disability, people over 60 years of age and people with comorbidity issues as they are easily susceptible to the disease.

The Ministry of Health reassures all vaccine eligible individuals that they will be vaccinated in due course of time. Fiji will continue to receive the COVID-19 vaccines in batches similar to the other countries.

An additional 10,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have arrived from Australia.

Australia's High Commissioner to Fiji, John Feakes says they are pleased to announce this second delivery of Australia-made AstraZeneca vaccines which landed in Nadi last night to further assist Fiji’s COVID19 vaccine rollout.

Feakes says Australia continues to stand with the Fijian government through this ongoing challenge and supports their efforts.

These vaccines follow an initial 10,000 doses that arrived on May 6th.

Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong had earlier said the current commitments for the COVID-19 vaccine doses for the country can cover 484,000 Fijians.

He says we need to cover 650,000 people.

The Health Ministry's COVID-19 vaccination drive starts today in parts of Macuata and Bua.

You can get vaccinated at St Mary's Primary School in Labasa, the Agriculture Quarters in Dreketi, Nadogo Secondary School in Wainikoro, Naduri Health Centre and Lagi Health Centre in Macuata.

In Bua, you get can vaccinated at the Nabouwalu Screening tent, Lekutu Health Centre and Wainunu Health Centre.

If you are going to the vaccination site please wear a proper mask and do not remove your mask to talk to anyone.

You must maintain a safe physical distance of 2 metres.

Carry an effective hand sanitiser and frequently sanitise your hands.

Please download the careFIJI app and turn on your bluetooth.

Bring your water bottle and essentials so that you do not have to share with anyone.

The Ministry of Health says they are targeting frontliners including private and public health care workers, defence force, sea and airports, and civil servants joining the COVID-19 contact tracing team, individuals involved in the Blue Lane Initiative, taxi, minivan and bus drivers, bankers, workers from petrol stations, individuals above 60 years of age, individuals with co-morbid issues such as diabetes, hypertension, heart conditions, asthma, HIV, cancer, renal dialysis patients and any other medical condition.

The next phase of the COVID-19 Vaccination drive has started in Nadi, Lautoka and Suva this morning.

People are being urged to come at Prince Charles Park in Nadi and Tilak High School in Lautoka till 6pm.

For those living in Suva, you can go to the Special Outpatients Department at the CWM Hospital and the Queen Victoria School Old Boys Club Hall in Brewster Road till 5pm today.

This is latest batch of the 24,000 doses which arrived in the country this month and is currently being administered to the targeted high-risk groups.

The high-risk groups include the remaining frontline workers and those providing essential services during the lockdown and Fiji’s vulnerable population.

The essential services include all vaccine eligible people who are part of the air and rescue services, air traffic control services, ports services, civil aviation, telecommunication services, food and sanitary manufacturing plants and services, electricity services, emergency services, fire services, health and hospital services, lighthouse services, meteorological services, mine pumping, ventilation and winding, supply and distribution of fuel and gas, power, telecommunications, garbage collection, transport services, water and sewage services, Fiji National Provident Fund, Fiji Revenue and Customs Services, civil service, private security services and road services.

The Ministry of Health is encouraging persons with disabilities and individuals with co-morbid issues such as diabetes, hypertension, heart conditions, asthma, HIV, cancer, patients undergoing renal dialysis and any other medical condition to come forward and get vaccinated.

They are working with the targeted high-risk groups to ensure that all COVID-19 safe measures are observed at the vaccination sites.

People are being advised to strictly comply with the COVID-19 safe measures to ensure no compromise of anyone’s safety when at the vaccination site.

Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong says the current commitments for the COVID-19 vaccine doses for the country can cover 484,000 Fijians.

He says we need to cover 650,000 people.

Doctor Fong says they expect 64,800 of the 100,800 doses pledged by COVAX to arrive by June.

New Zealand has pledged half a million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Fiji.

We have received 100,000 doses from India and expect to receive the first shipment of 10,000 doses from Australia as early as next week, with other shipments arriving monthly.

The Permanent Secretary says they are grateful for the commitments they have received for vaccines so far, but they are not enough, nor are they coming soon enough, and the government is working with our international partners on new commitments

He says with an outbreak already upon us, the urgency of achieving widespread immunity grows daily.

Doctor Fong also stresses that no one in Fiji is fully vaccinated.

You need two doses of these vaccines to be fully vaccinated, and then need to wait an additional two weeks for its full response within your immune system to take effect.

He says only once every Fijian, who is eligible, achieves that level of immunity, will Fiji truly be safe from this deadly virus.

The Permanent Secretary says it is not easy to give up the normal activities of daily life and remain at home, but if we all make this effort, we can stop this virus once again and return to those normal activities--to go to work, see family and friends, do our shopping, play sports.

He stresses that no government can defeat this virus alone as it takes the effort of an entire nation to stop it in its tracks, and that means that every Fijian depends on every other Fijian to do their part in the lockdown zone, in the containment areas, and all across Fiji.

Doctor Fong says this is like a war, defeat is unthinkable, and compromise is impossible.

He says we have to win, and we will win but we will need everyone’s best effort.

Fiji’s fight against COVID-19 has received a major boost as New Zealand has offered, and Fiji has accepted, AstraZeneca doses for 250,000 people from New Zealand’s domestic vaccine portfolio.

New Zealand Associate Minister of Health and Foreign Affairs Aupito William Sio and Fijian Health Minister Dr. Ifereimi Waqainabete met virtually last week to discuss New Zealand’s offer, which also includes NZ$2 million of Official Development Assistance to support Fiji’s vaccine rollout.

The Ministers say New Zealand and Fiji are working together closely to support Fiji with access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines at the earliest opportunity.

Both Ministers stressed that there are still a number of steps to work through before the vaccines can be delivered.

The vaccine still has to be approved by Medsafe before it can be used in New Zealand and donated to Fiji.

Dr. Waqainabete says Fiji has chosen to roll-out AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine following earlier deliveries through the COVAX AMC and from India, and they are delighted New Zealand has been able to support us to continue our campaign

Sio says Fiji has worked hard to keep COVID-19 contained and New Zealand has been committed to supporting it in this.

He says New Zealand is working hard to make that happen as soon as possible with a target of delivery for the third quarter of this year.

The Permanent Secretary for Health Dr James Fong says there are indications that they will be getting enough COVID-19 vaccines for everyone they want to vaccinate.

Dr Fong says they will be getting the vaccine in batches which will be rolled out for the rest of the year.

He has also confirmed that the Ministry could start the next phase of their vaccination campaign as early as next Wednesday. Another 24,000 AstraZeneca doses from the COVAX facility arrived in Fiji earlier this week.

Dr Fong says they wanted to start with the roll out this Saturday but that will be tough because of the amount of containment programs they are running.

Meanwhile the Head of Health Protection Dr Aalisha Sahukhan has also confirmed that there are studies ongoing around the world regarding vaccines for children and they are watching that carefully.

Dr Sahukhan says once the studies conclude, organizations such as the World Health Organization will look at the results and make a recommendation if children should be vaccinated or not.

She adds there are a number of vaccine trials going on for children and they are waiting for that.

Another 24,000 AstraZeneca doses from the COVAX facility has arrived and the Permanent Secretary for Health Dr James Fong says that they are looking at deploying the whole 24,000 vaccines soon.

Please stay listening to get details on the vaccination centres.

Dr Fong says another batch will also be arriving quickly and that is where they will be keeping the second dose of the 24,000.

COVAX Facility is a global initiative aimed at making sure low and middle-income countries get access to vaccines.

The European Union and its member states as well as the European Union Investment Bank are some of the lead contributors to the COVAX Facility.

More than 50,000 people have been vaccinated and all vaccination centres are closed for now.

The Ministry of Health confirms the current vaccine supply has been exhausted.

They earlier announced that this phase of the campaign would end today depending on availability of vaccines.

They say the little remaining vaccine stock will be used for targeted vaccination activities.

Permanent Secretary for Health Doctor James Fong has also confirmed that some specific frontline groups and some of the vulnerable groups will be vaccinated with the remaining stock.

Doctor Fong has also stressed that their Outreach Teams will be visiting these specific groups of people as this is not a public campaign.

The Ministry says 12,354 people were vaccinated on Thursday.

Minister for Health Doctor Ifereimi Waqainabete has also confirmed that everyone that got their first dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine will surely be getting their second dose in the next 8 to 12 weeks as they have kept it aside.

Doctor Waqainabete says this is the way their vaccination program has been made and they will always follow it.

They say it is evident through this massive turnout that Fijians are once again committed to protecting themselves, their families and Fiji during this pandemic.

The Ministry has also announced that the second batch of vaccines through the COVAX facility is expected to arrive next week.

They say the next phase of the vaccine rollout will start soon after these 24,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine are received.

The Ministry is also urging people if they have missed out on getting vaccinated this time, please stand by for the start of the next phase in the next 2 weeks.

The Health Ministry is about to reach it’s target of vaccinating 50,000 people in the country to protect them against COVID-19 and the number of vaccination centres open today have been reduced compared to earlier this week.

Large crowds are turning up today at centres like Vodafone Arena to get the AstraZeneca jab, and it is getting clear that the demand for the vaccine in the country is now exceeding the limited number of doses available.

Only one centre is open in Suva today while none are open in Nasinu, Nausori and Lami.

Some centres open in different parts of the country today only have the opening time and the closing time will depend on the availability of the number of doses as it may finish earlier than expected.

Health Minister, Doctor Ifereimi Waqainabete says they are close to the 50,000 target and he assures those who miss out will be vaccinated in the next batch.

Doctor Waqainabete says the Health Ministry will ensure everyone above 18 years is vaccinated.

He has thanked all those who have come in to get vaccinated.

Another 90,000 doses of the vaccine are expected to arrive in the next few weeks. However there is no confirmation on the timeline at this stage.

Minister for Health Doctor Ifereimi Waqainabete confirms that everyone that got their first dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine will surely be getting their second dose in the next 8 to 12 weeks as they have kept it aside.

Doctor Waqainabete says this is the way their vaccination program has been made and they will always follow it.

He says they aim to finish off this phase of vaccination by Saturday where they will have 50,000 people vaccinated.

Doctor Waqainabete says now there is a lot more interest in vaccination and just looking at the photos of the number of people getting vaccinated will uplift spirits.

Waqainabete says this has also been uplifting for health care workers and the disciplined forces because they have been working hard behind the scenes.

He says more than 9,000 people were vaccinated yesterday alone.

The Minister says with the number of people that have been vaccinated now, more people have a fair idea of what side effects to expect after getting the first dose.

Waqainabete says the good news for us is that no one has needed extensive medical care because of the side effects. He says some of the people experienced fever, body pain and other symptoms which were expected.

He says they are very happy with the response and their planning continues for the next batch of vaccines.

27,705 Fijians have received the first dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine so far.

The Ministry of Health says 9,932 people were vaccinated yesterday alone.

The Ministry says based on the high uptake of vaccine by the public, the current phase of the vaccination campaign is expected to end by this Saturday.

They say the target for this phase was to vaccinate 50,000 people.

People who have not registered for COVID-19 vaccination do not need to worry as they can get registered and vaccinated at the vaccination centre.

You just need to turn up with your photo ID.

If you have already registered then you just need to show your reference number and get vaccinated.

The COVID-19 vaccination campaign is currently underway in the Southern, Northern, Western and Eastern Divisions.

Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong confirms that the COVID-19 vaccination hesitation is starting to ease off as we are getting a critical mass of people getting vaccinated.

With huge turnouts being recorded at the COVID-19 vaccination sites around the country from today, Doctor Fong says he can also confirm that the health officials are no longer being hassled by people based on religious lines.

He says this has changed after the meeting with the faith based organisations earlier this month.

Doctor James Fong says they are now getting the willing people over 18 years to get vaccinated along with those in the vulnerable group.

He says their deployment plan is changing according to the requirements of the situation.

Doctor Fong says they had an original deployment plan but the situation has changed based on the expiry date of the stocks and the arrival of more vaccine stocks soon under the COVAX facility.

Doctor Fong says huge turnouts are also being recorded as they are doing schedules for large groups. He confirms many civil servants from various ministries are also being vaccinated at the Vodafone Arena.

He also says people who have not registered for COVID-19 vaccination do not need to worry as they can get registered and vaccinated at the vaccination centre.

Doctor Fong says people just need to turn up with their photo ID.

People who have already registered just need to show their reference number and get vaccinated.

Huge turnouts are being recorded at the COVID-19 vaccination sites around the country as the Health Ministry has stepped up the vaccination drive from today.

Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong says they are now getting people over 18 years to get vaccinated along with those in the vulnerable group.

He says their deployment plan is changing according to the requirements of the situation.

Doctor Fong says they had an original deployment plan but the situation has changed based on the expiry date of the stocks and the arrival of more vaccine stocks soon under the COVAX facility.

Doctor Fong says huge turnouts are also being recorded as they are doing schedules for large groups.

He confirms many civil servants from various ministries are also being vaccinated at the Vodafone Arena.

He also says people who have not registered for COVID-19 vaccination do not need to worry as they can get registered and vaccinated at the vaccination centre.

Doctor Fong says people just need to turn up with their photo ID.

People who have already registered just need to show their reference number and get vaccinated.

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and his wife, Mary have received their first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine today.

Bainimarama says these vaccines are more than a shot in the arm, they are an injection of hope.

He says being vaccinated is their duty to keep our loved ones safe and set Fiji on a path to recovery.

The Prime Minister says these vaccines are safe, effective and backed by the miracle of modern medicine.

Bainimarama says it is natural to have questions about your health, which is why the Health Ministry has set up a dedicated hotline 158 to take questions.

The Prime Minister says this is why he and Mary did not have to think twice.

Around 4,000 members of the Fiji Police Force will be receiving their first jab of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine this week.

This includes staff in the Western, Central and Southern Divisions.

Members of the Fiji Police Force in the Northern Division and the Maritime areas will receive their jabs next week.

More than 300 members of the Force in the Central Division including the Acting Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu, Chief Operations Officer ACP Abdul Khan and other senior officers received their first dose of the vaccine today.

The set of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines used today is part of the 100,000 doses which were produced in India and arrived in the country last month.

Another batch of the vaccine is also expected to arrive soon under the COVAX facility which is a global initiative aimed at making sure low and middle-income countries get access to the vaccines.

The President of the Shree Sanatan Dharm Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji, Sarju Prasad says whatever helps cure certain ailments is not evil and the COVID-19 vaccine must be welcomed.

Speaking to fijivillage, Prasad says he has heard that some people are hesitant to take the vaccine but adds religion and science compliment each other and every medicine is prepared for the betterment of human beings.

He says people have been taking other types of vaccines in the past and this is no different.

Prasad adds they are in full support of the Ministry of Health who are trying their best to keep Fijians safe from the virus.

Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong says Fiji remains at risk of breaches at the border at any point in time and the danger of COVID-19 community cases is real.

Only 25,000 people have been registered for vaccination so far and Doctor Fong stresses that everyone should be encouraged to get vaccinated.

While speaking to the representatives of the faith based organisations, Doctor Fong says this is a difficult journey to navigate.

Doctor Fong says the border closures are also affecting many people in the country, and we have to protect the people from COVID-19 by vaccinating them so that we can engage in the world.

Doctor James Fong has also told the religious leaders and representatives that the COVID-19 vaccine cannot be evil and satanic.

He confirms they are currently struggling in trying to get people to register for the vaccination rollout.

Dr Fong says they have set up tents in strategic locations but they get the same hesitant remarks on the vaccine based on religion.

He has called on the religious leaders to assist in protecting the people of the country through vaccination and getting vaccinated is nothing new.

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says he is getting vaccinated because it is what we all must do to defeat this pandemic once and for all.

Bainimarama says these vaccines are part of the greatest achievement in modern medicine and every dose represents months of research, development and trials.

He says all that is required of us is a few minutes of our time, a few minutes to protect ourselves, to safeguard our loved ones and to set Fiji on the road to recovery.

Bainimarama says all that is required is a few minutes to reconnect families and friends separated by closed borders and a few minutes to help bring life fully back to what it was.

Fiji has received the first shipment of 100,000 AstraZeneca vaccines from India last night.

[images: Fijian Govt./Facebook]

The next batch of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines that arrived last night will go immediately towards protecting the remainder of frontliners and it will also kick-start the second phase of our vaccine roll-out, which will include the more vulnerable segments of the population.

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama highlighted this while receiving the first shipment of 100,000 doses of the vaccine from India.

Bainimarama says these vaccines are part of the greatest achievement in modern medicine.

He is also encouraging Fijians to get vaccinated and to register to receive the vaccine.

Bainimarama says many families are counting on the return of the industries they have dedicated their careers to adding we must protect ourselves alongside the rest of the world.

He further says we have another shipment of 90,000 doses headed to Fiji in the coming weeks, and they look forward to working with their development partners on a bilateral basis to secure the many more shipments of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines.

Bainimarama also thanked India for their commitment to humanity and says he looks forward to thanking Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in-person once life starts looking a bit more normal than it does today and thinks they are overdue for another selfie.

These vaccines have been produced by the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, the Serum Institute of India.

Good news as another 100,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine has arrived in the country.

Health Minister, Doctor Ifereimi Waqainabete confirms that Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama received the second batch from India.

Doctor Waqainabete says the 100,000 doses which were produced in India are being donated by the Indian Government.

It is being flown in by Fiji Airways.

Another batch of the vaccine is also expected to arrive soon under the COVAX facility.

Doctor Waqainabete says the COVID vaccination will accelerate now and it is good news for everyone. He encourages everyone over 18 years to register for the vaccine.