39,179 people have received the booster shot while 142,240 people are still due

As at 11th January 2022, 39,179 Fijians over the age of 18 have received the booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine while 142,240 people are still due to get their booster shot.

The booster dose program began in November last year with frontline health and essential service workers and was later opened to everyone aged 18 and over.

Permanent Secretary for Health Doctor James Fong says they currently have more than 100,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine in stock and are also expecting more doses of the Pfizer vaccine by the middle of this month.

Dr Fong says a booster dose significantly increases protection from symptomatic infection and strengthens protection against severe disease.

The Ministry of Health is encouraging people over the age of 18 to get their booster shot if they are due, especially if you are at higher risk of developing severe disease.

92.4% of the target population are now fully vaccinated while 97.9% have at-least received one dose.

This means that 570,990 adults in the country are now fully vaccinated.

30,029 children between the ages of 15 and 17 have received both doses of the vaccine while 10,657 children between the ages of 12 and 14 have received both doses of the Pfizer vaccine.