Health Ministry hopes to access pediatric doses of the Pfizer vaccine in the early part of the new year

Permanent Secretary for Health Dr James Fong says they hope to access pediatric doses of the Pfizer vaccine in the early part of the new year.

Dr Fong says however, improving vaccination in the older children and all adults in the school environment provides extra protection to children less than 12 years.

91.2 percent of the adult target population are now fully vaccinated.

27,787 children between the ages of 15 to 17 years have received two doses while 2,311 children aged between 12-14 years are fully vaccinated.

There are currently 118 active cases of COVID-19 in Fiji. Dr Fong says once school starts, they will continue the school vaccination program for all vaccine-preventable diseases.

He adds further protection is harnessed by facilitating COVID safe measures in the school and even more if there is better compliance to COVID safe measures in the community especially with regards to social gatherings.