42% of the target population get 1st dose of AstraZeneca - another 70,000 doses to arrive from Australia over the next week

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.