NADI, FIJI (10 March 2021) — The Ministry of Health and Medical Services has launched the COVID-19 vaccination campaign today with the target to fully vaccinate 6,000 front-line workers including health care workers, members of the disciplined forces, and border control workers who operate our COVID-19 border control and quarantine services.
The first batch of 12,000 Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines, procured through the COVAX facility, a partnership between CEPI, GAVI, UNICEF and WHO, will provide two doses each of vaccination for the target group. Additional vaccines sent through COVAX will arrive in staggered shipments in the weeks to come.
UNICEF, on behalf of the COVAX Facility, procure and supply COVID-19 vaccines that have been authorised for use under WHO’s Emergency Use Listing Procedure. These vaccines have gone through rigorous tests and clinical trials to ensure safety and effectiveness.
“We are very fortunate to receive the initial supply of the vaccines towards our collective effort to stop COVID-19 in Fiji and this will boost confidence among our neigbours on the safety of our shore as a tourist destination going forward, and I am very grateful to our donor partners for their tireless effort in assisting the Ministry”, Health Minister Dr Waqainabete said.
As the vaccination campaign starts today, the Health Ministry urges Fijians to continue to apply preadvised measures to successfully prevent and control transmission. This includes physical distancing where possible, managing proper ventilation, and maintaining good hand hygiene, alongside robust programmes to test, trace, isolate and treat to keep communities safe.