MINISTER IFEREIMI WAQAINABETE'S COVID-19 UPDATE

COVID-19 UPDATE
I want to briefly cover where we stand on our COVID-19 response.

Our vaccination and booster coverage are high and rising daily, with 90% of Fijian over the age of 15 now fully vaccinated. We are in a new stage of the pandemic where the rate of hospitalizations is the most important metric upon which we base decision-making. For members of the public, let me remind everyone that our “Vaccine Plus” approach relies on all those eligible being fully vaccinated, getting boosted five months after their second dose, and maintaining the health measures that suppress viral transmission. Those rules are on our Facebook pages, broadcast radio, and continuously emphasized by our officials.
We must also remember that COVID-19 is not the only challenge that our people face every day. Taking the pressure off health systems for COVID-related care will enable them to deal with the many other health challenges our people face, including NCDs, which is a far greater threat to Fijians than the coronavirus.
If we get back to the basics of COVID safety, our economy can continue to function, we can continue to work and engage with each other, and our children can attend school through the protocols we’ve carefully designed in close cooperation with the Ministry of Education, WHO, and UNICEF. Together, with the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism, and Transport we have also put together a number COVID-Safe Protocols as approved by the respective Permanent Secretaries, and these are published online at https://www.mcttt.gov.fj/covid-19-business-protocols/, with effect from 17 January 2022.
 
COVID-19 DEATHS
Thanks to the excellent protection offered by vaccines, we are seeing much lower levels of severe disease and hospitalisation compared to past outbreaks. This variant is also less severe. However, some people who are over the age of 50 or have significant chronic illnesses, are still at risk.

It is sad fact that of the 52 COVID-19 deaths in this 3rd Wave, nearly all at home died without receiving any treatment in a care facility. So today we’re urging everyone to be on high alert for COVID symptoms and to immediately seek medical care if you are having trouble breathing (shortness of breath or difficulty breathing), ongoing chest pain, severe headache, confusion, inability to stay awake or wake up, pale, grey or blue colored skin, lips or fingernails, worsening weakness, coughing blood.
 
HEALTHCARE WORKERS & COMMUNITY WIDE RESPONSE
This has been an all-out two-year effort from our medical front-and we are aware of the physical and mental toll the pandemic can have. The WHO has determined that about 1 in 4 health workers globally has experienced mental health issues during the pandemic, with some countries reporting health workers leaving their jobs because of difficult working conditions, staffing constraints, and the distress of making life and death decisions every day under intense pressure.
As such we will be gradually moving our staff back to normal working hours and allowing for official leave entitlements accrued over the past year.

Health workers and front-liners have done their best for two years to protect as many of us as possible; we must now do our part to protect them, by getting vaccinated, and by taking precautions to prevent becoming infected, or infecting someone else.

And for us to cultivate a whole-of-society approach to COVID management, working with all stakeholders, including school managers, head teachers, and principals in rural areas throughout Fiji. The outcome of this training is COVID-19 preparedness equipping local communities with the knowledge to carry out community-based surveillance, care pathways for COVID-19 cases, and COVID-19 safe measures.
 
COVID-19 VACCINATION COVERAGE
For our current vaccination campaign, as of January, we have 142,240 people due to receive the booster dose, of which 48,946 have been boosted. Our current stocks of the Moderna vaccine, which is being used as the booster dose, are in excess of 100,000 doses. We are also expecting more of the Pfizer vaccine by the middle of this month. The Ministry will also regularly update the vaccination sites on our Ministry of Health websites. Furthermore, the Ministry of Health has almost completed preparations to facilitate the deployment of Pfizer doses both as booster doses for adults over 18 years of age and for children above 12 years of age.
 
PREPARING FOR ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
As we are still in cyclone season, I want to close with some critical reminders.
While preparing for the adverse weather conditions, the public is reminded to also prepare well for their health needs. Those who take medications regularly for chronic illnesses should ensure that they have a week’s supply of medication with them.

It is important to remember that weather disturbances also increase the risk of climate-sensitive diseases such as leptospirosis, typhoid fever, dengue fever, and diarrheal diseases. The public is advised to take actions to protect themselves from these diseases and to prevent the spread of the diseases in our community and announcements are going out regularly on radio.

Drinking water should be boiled if the color of the water turns turbid or the regular water supply is frequently interrupted. Stored water should be covered to protect against dirt and pests. Compounds and the home surroundings should be cleared of loose materials and debris that can injure individuals and attract pests.

Household rubbish should be disposed of properly, and proper personal protective equipment should be used when outside the household.
Children should also be advised on the health risks associated with bathing in flooded water around the home, and in flooded drains, creeks, and rivers, and be discouraged from doing so.
 
ENDS